John Sickels' O's Top 20

[Frobby]

KCR -- 1 A-, 1 B+, 6 B, 2 B-, 9 C+, 1 C ----Top 10: 3.03 Top 20: 2.67

MIN -- 2 B+, 1 B, 5 B-, 12 C+ ------------ Top 10: 2.77 Top 20: 2.55

ATL -- 1 A-, 3 B+, 3 B, 6 B-, 7 C+ -------- Top 10: 3.07 Top 20: 2.75

PHI -- 3 B, 5 B-, 9 C+, 3 C --------------- Top 10: 2.70 Top 20: 2.47

TAM -- 1 A, 3 B+, 1 B, 4 B-, 11 C+ ------- Top 10: 3.00 Top 20: 2.67

ARI -- 1 B+, 1 B, 5 B-, 3 C+, 10 C -------- Top 10: 2.80 Top 20: 2.40

BAL -- 1 A, 3 B+, 1 B, 4 B-, 7 C+, 4 C ----Top 10: 3.00 Top 20: 2.60

WAS - 2 B+, 1 B, 3 B-, 11 C+, 2 C -------- Top 10: 2.70 Top 20: 2.48

CHC --1 B+, 2 B, 1 3 B-. 7 C+, 7 C --------Top 10: 2.66 Top 20: 2.38

BOS -- 1 A-, 1 B+, 3 B, 8 B-, 7 C+ --------Top 10: 2.93 Top 20: 2.68

CIN -- 1 B+, 3 B, 4 B-, 10 C+, 2 C ---------Top 10: 2.77 Top 20: 2.52

TOR -- 1 A-, 1 B+, 1 B, 3 B-, 7 C+, 7 C ----Top 10: 2.73 Top 20: 2.42

MIL -- 1 B+, 5 B, 2 B-, 9 C+, 3 C ----------Top 10: 2.83 Top 20: 2.53

OAK -- 2 B+, 6 B, 7 B-, 5 C+ --------------Top 10: 3.00 Top 20: 2.75

TEX -- 1 A, 2 A-, 1 B+, 5 B, 2 B-, 9 C+ ----Top 10: 3.23 Top 20: 2.80

COL -- 1 A-, 1 B+, 1 B, 2 B-, 7 C+, 8 C ----Top 10: 2.70 Top 20: 2.38

Our top 10 now ranks tied for 4th among 16 rated teams, though Sickels says he is likely to upgrade two Oakland pitchers which will push us to 5th. Our top 20 is 7th of the 16 rated teams. My impression though is that most of the top teams are already listed.

[clarence]

Amazingly. The following players came to the Rangers when they dealt Teixeira to the Braves.

1.) Neftali Feliz, RHP, Grade A: I don’t give out Grade As lightly, especially to pitchers. I might go down to A-.

3.) Elvis Andrus, SS, Grade A-: Should I go with B+ here? Athletic, very young for Double-A, I think the Renteria comparisons are apt and Andrus could be better.

They also received Jarod Saltalamacchia, Matt Harrison and Beau Jones.

In 2007 Saltalamacchia was rated the #3 prospect in the Braves organization and graded out as a B. Matt Harrison was the #4 prospect in the Braves organization and graded out as a B.

To put that into perspective. The Braves received the following for Teixeira (In terms of prospects)

2 A-, 2 B, and Beau Jones

Could you imagine if the Orioles made that type of deal for a guy like Markakis? That is how you rebuild in a hurry folks.[/QUOTE]

If we don't sign Tex, I'd like to see AM look into something like this.

[PaulBako]

Amazingly. The following players came to the Rangers when they dealt Teixeira to the Braves.

1.) Neftali Feliz, RHP, Grade A: I don’t give out Grade As lightly, especially to pitchers. I might go down to A-.

3.) Elvis Andrus, SS, Grade A-: Should I go with B+ here? Athletic, very young for Double-A, I think the Renteria comparisons are apt and Andrus could be better.

They also received Jarod Saltalamacchia, Matt Harrison and Beau Jones.

In 2007 Saltalamacchia was rated the #3 prospect in the Braves organization and graded out as a B. Matt Harrison was the #4 prospect in the Braves organization and graded out as a B.

To put that into perspective. The Braves received the following for Teixeira (In terms of prospects)

2 A-, 2 B, and Beau Jones

Could you imagine if the Orioles made that type of deal for a guy like Markakis? That is how you rebuild in a hurry folks.[/QUOTE]

If we don't sign Tex, I'd like to see AM look into something like this.

No to trading Markakis.

We don't want to trade an established stud in Markakis for guys who have not been in the majors yet.

[Frobby]

No to trading Markakis.

We don't want to trade an established stud in Markakis for guys who have not been in the majors yet.

If we get to mid-2010 and Markakis hasn't signed an extension, then we look to do what Texas did. In the meantime, we should do everything possible to extend him.

[Frobby]

NYM: 2 B+, 3 B, 12 C+, 3 C ------------Top 10: 2.73 Top 20: 2.48

[bryanman8]

So are we ranked higher than the Nats' farm now? Or am I reading wrong?

I've gotten so much nonsense over the Nats having the 9th ranked farm its ridiculous. Their farm stinks, almost as much as their ballclub.

[Crazysilver03]

So are we ranked higher than the Nats' farm now? Or am I reading wrong?

I've gotten so much nonsense over the Nats having the 9th ranked farm its ridiculous. Their farm stinks, almost as much as their ballclub.

BAL -- 1 A, 3 B+, 1 B, 4 B-, 7 C+, 4 C Top 10: 3.00 Top 20: 2.60WAS - 2 B+, 1 B, 3 B-, 11 C+, 2 C ---- Top 10: 2.70 Top 20: 2.48

We are better than the Nats.

[Frobby]

So are we ranked higher than the Nats' farm now? Or am I reading wrong?

I've gotten so much nonsense over the Nats having the 9th ranked farm its ridiculous. Their farm stinks, almost as much as their ballclub.

The Nats were ranked 9th by BA last February. A lot has gone wrong for them since then, including several injuries to key prospects and failure to sign their no. 1 pick. Meanwhile a lot has gone right for the O's. We've certainly passed the Nats in the last 10 months.

[orioole28]

The Nats were ranked 9th by BA last February. A lot has gone wrong for them since then, including several injuries to key prospects and failure to sign their no. 1 pick. Meanwhile a lot has gone right for the O's. We've certainly passed the Nats in the last 10 months.

I was wondering if you can list the teams in ranking order so we would get a better feel of where we stand.

[Stotle]

The Nats were ranked 9th by BA last February. A lot has gone wrong for them since then, including several injuries to key prospects and failure to sign their no. 1 pick. Meanwhile a lot has gone right for the O's. We've certainly passed the Nats in the last 10 months.

If we were ever really behind them.

BA sort of set themselves up for this, in my opinion, when they bumped WAS 21 spots almost entirely off the strength of a draft class (which was good, but not THAT good).

Eh...

[PaulBako]

The White Sox are next, so maybe we should look at some of their players for a Roberts deal.

[Frobby]

I was wondering if you can list the teams in ranking order so we would get a better feel of where we stand.

I'm not sure if you are referring to BA's February rankings, or the rankings Sickels is doing now. If it's Sickels, I think it's premature until he's done all the teams and finished adjusting his individual rankings (he has changed several already). In any event it would depend whether you weight the top 10 the way I did it, or whether you rank the top 20 or even more. Here is what BA said last February:

1. Rays

2. Red Sox

3. Reds

4. Rangers

5. Yankees

6. Dodgers

7. Rockies

8. Braves

9. Nationals

10. Angels

11. Mariners

12. Padres

13. Cardinals

14. Marlins

15. Diamondbacks

16. Orioles

17. Mets

18. Twins

19. Indians

20. Cubs

21. Brewers

22. Phillies

23. Giants

24. Royals

25. Blue Jays

26. Pirates

27. A’s

28. White Sox

29. Tigers

30. Astros

Right now the teams that appear to be ahead of us (per Sickels) include at least Texas, Atlanta, Tampa, Oakland and KC. That's interesting since Oakland and KC were well behind us in February. It shows how much can change in less than a year based on injuries, trades and one draft.

[PaulBako]

Sickles did the White Sox today.

2 B+ and 1B and 9 C+ and 8 C

That's not a very good system.

Though, We could target Getz, Poread and Allen in a Roberts deal.

[Frobby]

Sickles did the White Sox today.

2 B+ and 1B and 9 C+ and 8 C

That's not a very good system.

Though, We could target Getz, Poread and Allen in a Roberts deal.

Top 10: 2.60 Top 20: 2.33

That's worse than "not a very good system." That's putrid.

[orioole28]

I'm not sure if you are referring to BA's February rankings, or the rankings Sickels is doing now. If it's Sickels, I think it's premature until he's done all the teams and finished adjusting his individual rankings (he has changed several already). In any event it would depend whether you weight the top 10 the way I did it, or whether you rank the top 20 or even more. Here is what BA said last February:

1. Rays

2. Red Sox

3. Reds

4. Rangers

5. Yankees

6. Dodgers

7. Rockies

8. Braves

9. Nationals

10. Angels

11. Mariners

12. Padres

13. Cardinals

14. Marlins

15. Diamondbacks

16. Orioles

17. Mets

18. Twins

19. Indians

20. Cubs

21. Brewers

22. Phillies

23. Giants

24. Royals

25. Blue Jays

26. Pirates

27. A’s

28. White Sox

29. Tigers

30. Astros

Right now the teams that appear to be ahead of us (per Sickels) include at least Texas, Atlanta, Tampa, Oakland and KC. That's interesting since Oakland and KC were well behind us in February. It shows how much can change in less than a year based on injuries, trades and one draft.

I was thinking more in line with Sickels rankings and kinda put in order like this:

Top 20

(1)TEX -- 1 A, 2 A-, 1 B+, 5 B, 2 B-, 9 C+ ---- Top 20: 2.80

(2)ATL -- 1 A-, 3 B+, 3 B, 6 B-, 7 C+ -------- Top 20: 2.75

(3)OAK -- 2 B+, 6 B, 7 B-, 5 C+ -------------- Top 20: 2.75

(4)BOS -- 1 A-, 1 B+, 3 B, 8 B-, 7 C+ --------Top 20: 2.68

(5)KCR -- 1 A-, 1 B+, 6 B, 2 B-, 9 C+, 1 C ----Top 20: 2.67

(6)TAM -- 1 A, 3 B+, 1 B, 4 B-, 11 C+ ------- Top 20: 2.67

(7)BAL -- 1 A, 3 B+, 1 B, 4 B-, 7 C+, 4 C ---- Top 20: 2.60

(8)MIN -- 2 B+, 1 B, 5 B-, 12 C+ ------------ Top 20: 2.55

(9)MIL -- 1 B+, 5 B, 2 B-, 9 C+, 3 C ---------- Top 20: 2.53

(10)CIN -- 1 B+, 3 B, 4 B-, 10 C+, 2 C --------- Top 20: 2.52

(11)WAS - 2 B+, 1 B, 3 B-, 11 C+, 2 C -------- Top 20: 2.48

(12)PHI -- 3 B, 5 B-, 9 C+, 3 C --------------- Top 20: 2.47

(13)TOR -- 1 A-, 1 B+, 1 B, 3 B-, 7 C+, 7 C ---- Top 20: 2.42

(14)ARI -- 1 B+, 1 B, 5 B-, 3 C+, 10 C -------- Top 20: 2.40

(15)COL -- 1 A-, 1 B+, 1 B, 2 B-, 7 C+, 8 C ---- Top 20: 2.38

(16)CHC --1 B+, 2 B, 1 3 B-. 7 C+, 7 C -------- Top 20: 2.38

(17)CHW -------------------------------------Top 20: 2.33

Top 10

(1)TEX Top 10: 3.23

(2)ATL Top 10: 3.07

(3)KCR Top 10: 3.03

(4)OAK Top 10: 3.00

(5)TAM Top 10: 3.00

(6)BAL Top 10: 3.00

(7)BOS Top 10: 2.93

(8)MIL Top 10: 2.83

(9)ARI Top 10: 2.80

(10)MIN Top 10: 2.77

(11)CIN Top 10: 2.77

(12)TOR Top 10: 2.73

(13)WAS Top 10: 2.70

(14)PHI Top 10: 2.70

(15)COL Top 10: 2.70

(16)CHC Top 10: 2.66

(17)CHW Top 10: 2.60

When Sickels upgrades some grades and as the rest of the teams get completed, I don't see any remaining teams passing us. If that's the case then our farm system is legit!!