Older Blog Entries

Disaster in Minnesota?

Five Backups to Nathan, Plus One Sleeper Candidate

On Tuesday, the worst possible news for Twins fans of all ages came down the pipe: superstar closer Joe Nathan has a torn elbow ligament, and will miss significant time. As a 35 year old with few years remaining in pro ball, he may try to pitch with the tear rather than lose 18 months on Tommy John surgery to replace and reattach the ligament, but whatever route he chooses, the Twins bullpen situation just got a lot less stable. If Nathan is out for a month or a year, who are the candidates to replace him, and which is the best bet?
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New York Yankees: Top 2010 Prospects

No Mercy: The World Champions Just Keep Getting Better

The 'New' New York Yankees might still spend money like it's on fire, but they've also begun taking scouting and player development very seriously indeed, and that should scare the pants off the rest of the American League. In the unlikely event that YankeeNetsLLC runs out of free agent money in the future, they've got some very good-looking prospects in-house they can use to dominate the AL East.   More...

Washington Nationals: Top 2010 Prospects

Don't Look Now: The Nats Are (Almost) For Real

With so much talent at the top of their farm, a team can only be a laughing stock for so long. By the end of the year, Stephen Strasburg should be ready to take over as the ace of one of the most talented young staffs in baseball, and the Nationals' talent pool doesn't start and end with pitching, either. Add the riches of another good draft to the roster (Bryce Harper, anyone?) and the Nationals could have a young superstar at almost every position on the diamond by the middle of the decade. This is a team that should be moving up in the standings, and soon.   More...

Florida Marlins: Top 2010 Prospects

How to Win Baseball Games Without Spending Money

No franchise was more efficient, in terms of wins per dollar, than the Florida Marlins of the 2000's. The team's management has always been singularly dedicated to maximizing the value of their young players, and this obsession has ensured the Marlins have one of the best talent pipelines in baseball. When a player gets too expensive to keep, no worries: there are two or three others in the minor leagues just itching for a promotion, anyway. The Florida farm of 2010 is stacked in power bats, but there are more than a couple of gifted arms down there, too, which means the team we'll soon be calling Miami won't be hurting for talent anytime soon.   More...

Philadelphia Phillies: Top 2010 Prospects

The NL's Craftiest Franchise Has Many, Many Secret Weapons

The Phillies might be the best-trading franchise in the National League today (for AL honors, marvel at the shiny-headed wizardry being practiced in Seattle). Not only did the defending NL champs manage to pick up ace Cliff Lee in 2009 without giving up any of their best minor leaguers, they turned around in the offseason and did it again by turning Lee into the even-better Roy Halladay... all while keeping their best prospects again. They even received a couple of extra prospects in the bargain, leaving their future in excellent shape while upgrading today's roster.   More...

Atlanta Braves: Top 2010 Prospects

All the Pitching You Know and Love, with Something New: Hitters

The Braves have always had a knack for developing pitching (and for trading away the less-promising prospects for good value), but the most exciting thing about the Atlanta farm might be the bats. It's been awhile since the days of home-grown Chipper and Andruw, but in addition to the usual roster of hot arms, the Braves might have a handful of franchise bats blossoming in Mississippi, Myrtle Beach, Rome and Danville this season.   More...

New York Mets: Top 2010 Prospects

Meet the Mets Farm, Otherwise Known as Midseason Injury Replacements

Another big-spending team that doesn't seem to take their farm system very seriously, the New York Mets seem content to use the minor leagues as a source of backups and bench bodies. There are a few exceptions, of course: the team has a possible catcher and first baseman of the future stretching out for duty, and the team's dedication to Latin America is bound to pay off now and again. The next test of the latter effort will be how quickly Dominican phenom Jennry Mejia advances through the system.   More...

Baseball America Releases 'BA Top 100 Prospects for 2010'

New Data for Scouting Book, and a Deeper Look at Why Rankings Disagree

Baseball America, granddaddy of all ranking systems, has released its new Top 100 Prospects for 2010 list, and as usual, we've added this data to our individual player, list, and grid displays today, so you can compare, contrast and get a much broader sense of opinion than any one list could ever deliver.   More...

Toronto Blue Jays: Top 2010 Prospects

Regroup, Rethink, Retool: The Blue Jays Rebuild

When you need to move a player, and the whole league knows you need to move him, that's what's called a weak bargaining position. But the Blue Jays found a way to make lemonade from their sour situation in winter 2009 when they managed to recoup a passel of quality prospects to replace franchise ace Roy Halladay. It took a couple of player flips, throw-ins and side-deals, but when the dust had settled, Toronto was able to add pitchers Brandon Morrow and Kyle Drabek, along with slugger Brett Wallace and catcher Travis D'Arnaud, and that's one heck of a consolation package. If nothing else, it sure makes Toronto's minor league system look a lot more talent-rich than it did back in October.   More...

Minnesota Twins: Top 2010 Prospects

Target: Perpetual Playoff Contenders

The small-market Twins were one of the big winners in the 2009 offseason when they signed super-prospect Miguel Angel Sano from the Dominican Republic for a record $3.15M. Adding Sano to their already top-notch farm system is like putting frosting on an ice-cream cake: this is one of the richest farm systems in baseball, and as the Twins settle into their new ballpark for 2010, their fans are looking forward to a great decade of baseball.   More...

Tampa Bay Rays: Top 2010 Prospects

They Just Keep Coming: Tampa's Prospect Factory Keeps Producing

The Tampa Bay Rays have had one of baseball's best farm systems almost since their inception, and the 2010 edition is no different. A collection of red-hot arms is complemented by some very well-rounded everyday players, which means the already-young Tampa Bay MLB roster could get even younger in the next couple of years. And if the team continues to draft and trade with such sharp eyes and business acumen, the team should be in great shape for many more years to come.   More...

Milwaukee Brewers: Top 2010 Prospects

As Usual, the Brewers Have More Talent on Tap

One of the NL's best farm systems over the last decade, the Milwaukee talent machine shows no indications of slowing down anytime soon. Even when they empty it to bring in big stars like CC Sabathia in trade, they seem to reload almost instantly. Today's Brewer farm is as deep as always, especially in hitting prowess.    More...

Twins Get a (Bigger) Book

Twinkie Blood Bleeds through Pages of Prospect Guide

The Minnesota Twins franchise, once threatened with contraction, has become a shining beacon of hope for 'small market' teams, as they've proven over and over again that spending effort early works better than spending money late. The Twins boast a star-studded lineup that's built almost entirely from their own farm system, and when they can't find a position internally, they'll deftly pluck the best prospects from someone else's farm system. Once a perennial doormat, the team has risen to become a contender every season.    More...

St Louis Cardinals: Top 2010 Prospects

A Pitching-Rich System is Bad News for the Rest of the League

Pitching, pitching and more pitching. That's been the recipe the Cardinals have followed for the last decade, and it shows in the team's farm system. While there are some promising hitters in the system, it's the pitching that deserves the most attention. At least a few of these names will be nestled to Dave Duncan's breast in the years to come, and in the weak NL Central, they stand a good chance of finding success early.   More...

Chicago Cubs: Top 2010 Prospects

Cubs Faithful May Have a Few Prayers Answered Soon

The Cubs have never been a team big on development. For most of the last 20 years, they've been content to spend money to bring in veterans from other clubs instead. But the Chicago farm has some pretty good talent nonetheless, including a confusingly-named future ace, a slick shortstop and at least two pretty big bats.   More...

Houston Astros: Top 2010 Prospects

It Could Be Worse: There Could Be Astroturf

The Houston Method: take every decent prospect you have, trade them away for mediocre veterans, finish in fourth place. Repeat for five or ten years, see what happens. Hey, maybe you'll get lucky. Truly, after running the farm system into the ground for the last five years, it's almost a miracle that there's any talent at all left in the Astros' minor league network. But there are a few glimmers of gold in that dried-out river bed, and the team is only a couple of good drafts away from restocking completely. That eighth overall pick in 2010 sounds like a good place to start.   More...

Cincinnati Reds: Top 2010 Prospects

The Big Youth Machine Keeps Producing MLB Talent in Cincy

The Reds have consistently turned out quality baseball prospects in the last decade, and have managed to build a cost-controllable team of young talent, largely from their own development system. The next crop looks no less impressive, with a nice mix of big bats and promising arms.    More...

Pittsburgh Pirates: Top 2010 Prospects

A Skinflint Franchise Stumbles Forward

Through drafting and trading, the thrifty Pirates have assembled one of the richer farms in today's MLB. With a nice mix of pitching (Alderson, Lincoln) and hitting (Alvarez, Tabata), the team has done a commendable job of building an affordable future. The team enjoys the second overall draft position in 2010, and though they're unlikely to spend the money necessary to take the best player available (once again), they'll at least have the opportunity to scoop the best value pick (also, once again). It's unclear whether they're building a future in which the team can compete, rather than just a profitable one, but at least they're not standing still.   More...

Cleveland Indians: Top 2010 Prospects

If You Squint, the Outline of a Plan is Almost Visible

When you can no longer afford to keep the best-hitting catcher of the decade, not to mention two different Cy Young winners, you'd better start rethinking your financial plans. That's just what Cleveland's done, and while they might not have received maximum value for those superstars, the team has done a commendable job in at least getting something in return, and that something has made the once-dry Indian farm system a place where prospects can blossom once more. With not one but two legitimate replacements for Victor Martinez, and a half-dozen viable major league starters in waiting, the Indians won't have to suffer through too many losing seasons before they're ready to contend again.    More...

Kansas City Royals: Top 2010 Prospects

Homegrown Pitching is Almost Here

By waiting an extra year, Aaron Crow wound up back in the 2009 Draft, allowing his hometown Kansas City ballclub to select him after all. The big righthander should be a capable number two starter behind ace Zack Greinke by 2011. To complement that tandem, the Royals have a rich pool of hitters and pitchers in their minor league system, making the team a favorite dark horse bet to compete in the weak AL Central in the years to come.   More...

Baltimore Orioles: Top 2010 Prospects

First Washington, now Baltimore? The East's Other Stealth Contender

Don't look now, but that Baltimore Orioles team that used to overspend for has-been veterans has buckled down recently, and they've been building something pretty impressive in their back yard. Slowly, steadily and quietly, the Birds have constructed one of the nastiest collections of young arms in baseball. Add in an offense of 20-something stars (Adam Jones, Felix Pie, Nick Markakis, Matt Weiters) and you have the makings of a franchise that could give the AL East titans a run for their money soon. If you don't believe the O's can line up against Boston and New York, have a look at the talent they've assembled, add another couple of years of seasoning, and think again.   More...

Detroit Tigers: Top 2010 Prospects

Something Old, Something New: The Rebuilt Tigers Farm

Few teams overhauled their young employees more thoroughly than the 2009 Tigers, who sent the very erudite Curtis Granderson to the East Coast while also shipping pitcher Edwin Jackson to Arizona. The Tigers added Daniel Schlereth, Max Scherzer and Austin Jackson in that monster deal: those players make up the richest part of Detroit's young wealth as a result. Home-grown pitchers Jake Turner and Casey Crosby, for their part, seem to be next in line to follow Rick Porcello to the Motor City.   More...

Chicago White Sox: Top 2010 Prospects

Some Promising Youngsters Could Put the Sox Back on Top

Today's White Sox are a lot like yesterday's Orioles: try to compete with proven veterans, and when you have a hole, go out and spend a whole lot of money to fill it. The approach took them to the Series in 2005, but they've fallen flat since as their older players have broken down. The recent injection of home-grown Gordon Beckham is a step in the direction of sustainable success, though, and Tyler Flowers and Dayan Viciedo aren't far behind. Tomorrow's ChiSox should be younger and more resilient than recent models, and that's good news for South Siders.   More...

Colorado Rockies: Top 2010 Prospects

Pitchers, not Sluggers, Dominate the Rockies' Future

The days of the Blake Street Bombers almost seem like ancient history now, as the world's most famous humidor has transformed Colorado's mile-high ballpark into a pitcher's haven, and the Rockies haven't hesitated to take advantage of their new park factor. The Colorado farm system is positively stacked with pitching prospects, including three different lefthanders who could all find a place on the major league roster before 2012. This is a team that's taking its new approach to baseball very, very seriously.   More...

San Diego Padres: Top 2010 Prospects

A Farm in Disrepair Needs More than Rain

It might not have the biggest star power, but the Padres' farm system is certainly deep, with dozens of prospects who could fill major league rosters in the years to come. There are only a couple of possible All Stars here, but there's one benefit to a bottom-of-standings finish: the team will enjoy some very high draft picks in the next couple of years.    More...

San Francisco Giants: Top 2010 Prospects

The Giant Farm Lives Up to The Name

Quietly, the team by the Bay has built a minor league dynasty, with a plethora of near-ready talent at almost every position. The system that drafted Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum never stopped looking for more talent, and in the last few years, San Francisco has added a number of hitting prospects to the stable as well.   More...

Arizona Diamondbacks: Top 2010 Prospects

A Few Diamonds Shine in the Desert

It's a little top-heavy, with only a couple of sure-thing major leaguers, but Arizona's never been afraid to shake things up, which means the Diamondback farm of today will probably look a lot different come 2011, anyway.   More...

L.A. Dodgers: Top 2010 Prospects

The Team is Loaded with Local Talent, with More Ammo on the Way

The Dodger farm system has grown thin in recent years, but that's what happens when your entire MLB lineup is made up of your recent minor leaguers. The Dodgers have always done a great job maximizing the usefulness of their prospects: anyone without a future in L.A. will be traded in a deal that improves the team some other way. This year looks no different, as the best prospects on the farm just happen to play positions that the big league team will soon be looking for.   More...

Los Angeles Angels: Top 2010 Prospects

Is a Home-Grown Outfield the Final Piece of the Puzzle?

Some analysts look at the Los Angeles Angels and see a team in decline: a franchise with an aging core, a dry farm, and a manager who can't possibly keep defying the Pythagorean gods indefinitely. We're not quite as panicky as all that here at Scouting Book. Sure, it's easy to fret about the talent exodus Anaheim's suffered since 2008, but it should also be impossible to ignore the talent that remains in the minor leagues. In Conger, Trout, Bourjos and Grichuk, the Angels have future bats aplenty to add to one of baseball's best young infields, and whlle Walden, Reckling and Skaggs might sound like trio of old-timey blacksmiths, it's actually the next wave of potent Angels pitching.

There might be a few bumps and bruises for Angels fans in the next couple of years, but the future remains as blue as a Montana sky.   More...

ESPN Unveils Their Own Top 100 Prospects

ESPN Hates Aumont, Loves Chisenhall... and 99 More

ESPN's third annual look at their top 100 prospects for 2010 is topped by some familiar names, as ex-Blue Jay front office man Keith Law runs down his favorite youngsters.    More...

MLB.com Boosts Top 50 Prospects for 2010

Usual Suspects, Now with Video

MLB.com revealed its Top 50 Prospects for 2010 in a special half-hour MLB Network broadcast tonight. The list contains all the usual info on the usual suspects, supplemented with brief video blurbs and other big-budget shininess. What kind of list is it?   More...

Texas Rangers: Top 2010 Prospects

Desert Flamethrowers Lead Resurgent Rangers

The reengineering of Nolan Ryan's Rangers has been a sight to behold. Arlington's team has assembled some of the best pitching prospects in the whole sport, added in some truly monster young bats via the draft and international scouting, and done it without weakening the major league team. While the pieces are still a couple of years from meshing completely, it's already obvious that the Rangers will be challenging for more than a few AL West titles in the decade to come.   More...

Seattle Mariners: Top 2010 Prospects

The Emerald City is Sparkling With a Golden Future

Thanks to some clever wheeling and dealing by new GM Jack Zduriencik, the Seattle Mariners team that surprised for half a season last year are looking well-stocked to compete for a lot longer than that. With a selection of top-flight prospects and a lot of organizational depth in the pipeline, fans in MLB's rainiest city have sunny skies ahead.   More...

Baseball's Best Prospects, 2010 Edition

Prospect Machine Creaks to Life, Opens Up One Evil Eye

It might not feel like it in the depths of January, but it's only six weeks until pitchers and catchers start reporting and Major League Spring Training begins. Long before then, you'll probably want to wrap your head around all the new talent bursting on major league rosters, and what better place to keep track of the hottest of the hot than ScoutingBook.com?   More...

Say Goodbye to 2009

Prospect Cleanup Underway

We're overhauling our prospects database for 2010, so it's time to say goodbye to the rookies of 2009 and make room for next year's crop.   More...

September is for Next Year, Pt II

September Callups, Part 2

Continuing last week's theme, this week we look at five of the most-anticipated callups in the National League, focusing especially on a group of young up-and-coming catchers and quasi-catchers.   More...

September is for Next Year

September Callups, Part 1

Every September, MLB rosters expand from a restrictive twenty-five players to a robust forty. It's a time when contenders use the extra flexibility to rest their veterans and prepare for a playoff push. But for most teams, it's a chance to take a look at some of their top prospects, to get an idea whether they'll be ready for big-league action next spring.   More...

Strasburg Signs!

Super-Prospect, Other Top Picks Sign Deadline Deals

Stephen Strasburg has finally signed a deal with the Washington Nationals for almost $16M, a new record for amateur draftees. The deal includes a $7.5M signing bonus and $7.6M over four years, as well as incentives. The deal was announced shortly after midnight.   More...

A Not-So-Dirty Dozen Light Up the Draft Board

A First Look at the Top Twelve

Guess what? The Nationals selected some guy named Strasburg. The first round of the MLB draft brought few surprises, other than the Pirates following through on their way-reaching interest for catcher Tony Sanchez. Here's a quick roundup of the dozen who followed St. Stephen.   More...

Arms Dominate Draft Choices

Strasburg and Others Will Go Early

It's been a few years since there's been as clear a #1 pick as this year's Stephen Strasburg, the 100mph wunderkind who everyone's grandmother knows is destined for Washington in the upcoming Amateur Draft. But there's no real consensus on who the rest of the best prospects are.   More...

Nick Adenhart, 1986-2009

Angels Rookie Killed in Late-Night Hit-and-Run

Angels rookie Nick Adenhart was killed by a hit-and-run driver last night, immediately following the his season debut, in which he threw six shutout innings against the Athletics.   More...

Fantasy Draft Help is Here

Ranking the Non-Prospects for 2009

More than a few readers have asked us for our advice on grown-up MLB player rankings, presumably to help them with their fantasy drafts. So here's a quick cheat sheet to the ScoutingBook combined rankings for each position.   More...

BA Top 100 Prospects Released

Old School List Falls In Line

Baseball America, the Gray Lady of prospect publishing, recently shipped their 2009 Prospect Handbook, and today opened up a little more by allowing mere mortals inside their paywalled website -- or at least its foyer -- to view their selections for Baseball's Top 2009 Prospects. The BA list closely mirrors other lists already in the wild, with a few notable exexceptions.   More...

Prospectus Toppus Hundredus

Big Gorilla Hauls In, Falls in Line

Baseball Prospectus (BP) announced their Top 100 Baseball Prospects for 2009 yesterday, and the list manages to include a few surprises despite its overall consensus-towing line.   More...

Sporting News Adds Top 50 for 2009

Old Hands Join in With New List

The good old-fashioned Sporting News has jumped into the Prospect Rankings pool this year, and while their idea of a 'prospect' is a bit mathematically odd, the top of their chart fits into what's looking like a pretty familiar pattern by now.   More...

ESPN Joins the Party

Glossy Mag Lays Down the Law with Top 100 for 2009

The ESPN/Scouts Inc Top 100 Prospects List for 2009 was released today, so as usual we've added their rankings to all our player profiles so you can get a second (third, fourth, fifth) opinion on what we think. Keith Law, under the Scouts Inc banner, is anointing Matt Wieters and David Price 1-2 for 2009, which is exactly where they've been on our charts for the past five or six months. But after that, he's got some surprises and head-scratchers.   More...

Super Utility Players for 2009

Everyone wants a star-studded lineup, but when it comes down to the grind of August and September, a strong bench can make all the difference. A number of players appeared at two, three or even four different positions last season, and our popular multi-position qualifying tool will show you which 'super utility' players could be most valuable going into 2009.   More...

Happy Birthday to (all of) You!

Our '27' Tool Helps You Track Possible 27-Year Old Breakouts

Mike Aviles celebrated the big 27 last year, and broke through into MLB in a big way. He spring training still at that magical age. We've updated our tracking tools to help you keep an eye on other ballplayers who could be hitting their genetic stride this season.   More...

Shutting Down, Starting Up

Closing the Book on 2008 and Looking Ahead to Next Year

We've been a bit more lax than usual here at Scouting Book this month, as we soaked up post-season baseball and tried to unwind from a long season. But don't worry, big things are coming soon: we'll be going through a pretty hardcore overhaul during the winter, as we add more features and round out our existing data to 'expose' more of our internal data to you readers.

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Closing Time: Wait 'Til Next Year!

Seven Teams are Taking an Early Look at 2009 Closer Options

September is upon us, which means for a lot of teams, it's time to think about 2009, and nowhere is that more clear than in MLB bullpens. Today, we'll take a look at seven specific bullpen situations where a hot youngster is pushing hard enough to have a real chance at taking over in 2009. In some cases, the pressure is coming from two different players, adding an extra level of excitement and uncertainty.   More...

Dunn Just Right for Prospects

Adam Dunn Traded for Dallas Buck, Others

After clearing waivers, Adam Dunn has been traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks for pitching prospect Dallas Buck and two players to be named later.    More...

And One More Thing...

Prospects, Relievers and Throw-ins are Often Keys to Deadline Deals

With big names like Mark Teixeira, Pudge Rodriguez, Ken Griffey Jr and even (gulp!) Manny Ramirez being thrown around this week, it's easy to miss the smaller names that often mean the most in the long run.   More...

Batters Up!

As the Second Half Starts, New Top Prospects Emerge

As 2008's All Star Break fades into the rear view mirror, it's time to look ahead to find the prospects who could have second half breakouts in the Bigs, as well as the ones who will be Top of the Charts for 2009.
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Second Half Prospects for 2008 and 2009

Midseason Cleanup Underway for Second Half Prospects

It's the All-Star Break, which means it's time for our semi-annual cleanup. As a result of the Great Cull, more than sixty Prospects formerly in our rankings will graduate to MLB status and thus disappear from our list, leaving us with a nice clean slate of prospects for the second half.   More...

Harden Traded for Prospects

In trading Rich Harden, the A's continue to load up on prospects

Less than two days after the Brewers sold the farm to land ace CC Sabathia, the rival Cubs have responded by sending off four of their own young guns for flame-thrower Rich Harden. Who are the prospects and how do they fit into a deep Athletics system?   More...

Many Prospects for One Big Pitcher

CC is Traded, We Survey the Prospects Included

2008 is just entering those days when teams decide whether they're real competitors and become either buyers or sellers. The Milwaukee Brewers have made the biggest splash early by announcing the trade of four prospects to the Indians for pending free agent CC Sabathia. Everyone knows what CC represents, but since this is Scouting Book, we'll focus on the prospects who are on their way to Cleveland, and what they could mean to the Indians in the near future.   More...

Closer... Closer...

A Number of AL Relievers are Almost Ready...

As the season hits its midpoint, the ever-volatile closer situation is showing no signs of settling down. Here's a quick look at a number of future AL closers who appear to be on the cusp of getting their shot. For more, bookmark our Closer Watch page for daily updates.   More...

First Rounders of 2008, Part II

First rounder with likely early impact

On Friday we looked at the top twelve players taken in the 2008 Amateur Draft and shared our notion of how valuable those players would turn out to be. Today we'll wrap up the rest of the first round.
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First Rounders of 2008, Face Front!

2008 draft's first picks are on the way...

The 2008 Amateur Draft is in full swing, and most of the early picks are as-expected. There were a few head scratchers, though. Here's a quick look at the top dozen players taken so far, so you can start to get used to reading about them while we get them added to our Prospects database.   More...

Top Five Closers of the Year... So Far

Who's Saved The Day Most Often This Year?

As the one third mark on the season passes this weekend, we hand out the prizes for baseball's Top Five Closers of the season so far. Which ninth inning artists have racked up the most saves to date? Unless you've been paying close attention, the answer might surprise you.    More...

Twin Bear Cubs Fight for Early ROY

Fukudome and Soto are each monsters in their own way

It's hard to imagine two more different players than Kosuke 'F-Bomb' Fukudome and Geovany 'Go-Go' Soto. One's a rookie in name only, a seasoned professional meeting everyone's expectations after making the move across the ocean to compete in a new league. The other's a genuine rookie phenom who's had to prove and reprove himself to doubters who considered his early success to be a fluke. What they have in common, of course, is that they're both early Rookie of the Year candidates who are carrying the Cubs on their backs. Together, they'll be the key to the Cubs success or failure in 2008.   More...

Prospects on Deck

Who Will Get the Next Phone Call?

Six weeks into the season, some of baseball's hottest prospects are already seeing major league action. But some of the most promising haven't seen the big leagues yet. Who's next, and when will they get their chance in The Big Show?
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Early Returns: NL Pitching Prospects Delivering

Two weeks into the season, some pitchers are already shining

With the 2008 season only a few weeks old, a number of young National League prospects are already making their presence felt on the mound. Here's a quick look at some of our spring prospects who are making it big in the majors already, or will be very soon if their hot minor league debuts are to be believed.
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Last Minute Fantasy Draft Bargains Pt 2

Sleeper Starters Will Be Big League Winners, Soon

If you play fantasy baseball and just finished drafting, it's a safe bet that all of baseball's best pitchers, those with proven track records, were snapped up in your league, leaving only aging ex-aces and unknowns available on your league's waiver wire.

But some of those young unknowns should be known, based on how good organizationsthey looked all spring, and how their are rumbling about their big-league readiness. Here's a quick look at some young starters who might get an early opportunity thanks to their hot springs, and who could make an impact in the majors this season.   More...

Last Minute Fantasy Draft Bargains

Hot and Cold Starts Throw Wrenches into Fantasy Planning

If you're a fantasy baseball player drafting this weekend, you've probably already digested all of the websites, mock drafts, ADP lists and strategy guides you could find. But how much attention have you paid to when that information was published? Have you considered that a lot of early spring advice might already be out of date?

In the spirit of our prospect rankings (which are already updated every day), here's a position by position overview of which rookies, prospects and youngsters have looked the best and the worst this spring.   More...

Pu-re boru!

Rising Sun, Opening Day, Play Ball!

It's the strangest location for an Opening Day in MLB's history, and even with all the hype it's probably about to take a lot of people by surprise this morning... but the 2008 Baseball Season has officially begun!

Some thoughts on today's game as a micro-version of the season to come...
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Updated Top Outfield Prospects for 2008

A deep pool of big bats will bring the hurt

Some years, pitching dominates the prospect lists. Other seasons, there seem to be shortstops bouncing around everywhere.

This year, though, might be the season of the outfield.


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Third Base Prospects and Sleepers...

Not As Much Pop as Last Year, But Still Some Promise

UPDATED: If it seems like there are not many promising 3B prospects on our list this year, maybe that's because so many of them graduated to the majors in 2007. The remaining crop, though, is nothing to sneeze at.   More...

Show Me The Nickels!

Shameless ScoutingBook Website Now Accepts Tips, Charity

Believe it or not, a reader actually requested this new 'feature' on our site. Really. We swear... and not just a Roger Clemens/Mike Wallace 'swear', either... a real one. So we've added a cute little 'donate' button to the site so that you can tip us a dollar or three whenever you like via nice, safe Paypal.    More...

Barely-Legal Baseball Prospects Now Online

Up-to-the-Minute Ages Now in Profile

Here in the bowels of Scouting Book Mountain, the whirring, clacking, steam-powered mainframes are stuffed top to bottom with baseball data. Some of it is very valuable, some of it... not. Did you know, for example, that as a child growing up in Taco Taco, Cuba, White Sox prospect Alexei Ramirez used to make his own bats by breaking his poor mother's furniture, mops and brooms?    More...

Baseball America Top 100 Released Today

No Big Surprises, But a Few Hmmms.....

Baseball America, granddaddy of all ranking systems, has released its 2008 Top 100 list, and we've added this data to our individual, list, and grid displays today. You can now compare six major ranking systems alongside our own predictions.
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Super-Utility Players for 2008

NEW: Multi-Position Eligibility Calculator

Super-Subs. Utilitymen. Multi-Position Backups. The player who can play multiple positions in the major leagues is a manager's dream, because he makes roster construction and flexibility so much easier. Why carry a backup third baseman, shortstop and outfielder on your roster when you can get all three in one player?    More...

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RSS Feed Added to ScoutingBook.com

To address the overwhelming demand for an RSS feed of our postings, we've added a live feed to ScoutingBook.com. (Okay, full disclosure: only one reader asked for it, but he asked overwhelmingly.)   More...

Show Me The Money!

Players in their 'Walk' Years Are Incented to Perform

There's a certain wisdom in baseball that says that certain 'money players' perform better when their backs are up against the cash machine. Which players might respond to their big money opportunities this season?   More...

More Comparison Data Added

Now Showing: ESPN and Minor League Baseball

As astute readers have already noticed, we've added more comparison data to our prospect rankings. Now, in addition to Baseball Prospectus and the other ranking lists, you can also view any prospect's ranking from ESPN's Top 100 Prospects (2008 Season Preview) as well as the Top 50 2008 Look Ahead feature of Minor League Baseball's official site, MiLB.com. This new info is available on each prospect page, as well as on our quick-reference matrix.   More...

Pitchers With 27 Candles...

Big and Not-so-big Name Pitchers Turn 27

Jake Peavy. CC Sabathia. Jonathan Papelbon. Dan Haren. Bobby Jenks. All superstar pitchers who just had career years. At least, career years so far. All of these pitchers will be 27 years old this season, which means (statistically) they might be on the way to still better things.   More...

I'm Going... Where?

Mets Empty the Farm, Trade for Johan Santana

The biggest shoe in baseball finally dropped today, as the Minnesota Twins pulled the trigger on a deal to send their looming free-agent ace east for a rich package of prospects. But rather than take the sparkling offerings dangled by the Yankees, or the shiny toys the Red Sox waved, the Twins opted for a suite of lesser-known prospects from, of all places, the New York Mets.

Who are these prospects, how will they help the Twins, and what does their move to the heartland mean to their own career arcs? That's what ScoutingBook.com is all about! Let's take a very quick look...


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Baseball Prospectus Puts Out

Treasure Trove: BP's Top 100 Prospects 2008

As spring training approaches, baseball publications and websites are beginning to publish their own 'Prospect Lists' that review and rank the young players that they think are best (or most appealing, or highest-potential). Baseball Prospectus, one of the most respected brands in the 'baseball futures' business, published their Top 100 Prospects for 2008 List today, as researched and assembled by Kevin Goldstein. (The list is available online, and is expanded with additional info in their very fine publication.)

Since our own list here at Scouting Book is ever-changing and evolving, with players moving up and down daily, it's difficult to do a side-by-side comparison to any static or 'published' list, but whenever a new list is revealed, we can't resist diving in to see what other people think of our favorite kids.

The Baseball Prospectus list, in particular, is an intriguing study in expectations...
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Twenty Seven or Bust!

Will These Almost 27 Year Olds Shine?

Prospecting isn't always about rookies. Sometimes it's about sifting through the young veterans who are about to turn things up a notch. Historically, twenty-seven has been a magic age for ballplayer development, especially for hitters.    More...

Big Gloves, Bigger Bats

A Thundering Crowd of First Basemen for 2008

Even though first baseman handle the ball more than most ball players, it's still a position known for offense, offense and offense. The 2008 crop of young first-basemen is a small one, but there are some very big bats in the mix.   More...

Tools of Ignorance, Patience

Best Slugging Catchers Look to 2008 Breakouts

Catching is about defense, game-calling, handling a pitching staff, throwing out runners, and offense. Since there's only one of those categories in which excellence is likely to make a catcher a household name, genuine catching prospects are few and far between.    More...

Japanese Imports Keep Coming

Fukudome, Kuroda Coming to America

Kobayashi is an Indian. Yasuhiko Yabuta signed with Kansas City. Fukudome will guard Wrigley's ivy, and now ace righthander Hiroki Kuroda has chosen prestige over yen by choosing the L.A. Dodgers for his American adventure.   More...

Japan Brings Punch, Sizzle to Offseason

Top 12 Japanese Player Imports to Watch

Japanese imports have had mixed results in the land of baseball. While a few, like Hideki Matsui and Daisuke Matsuzaka have fluorished, others like Hideki Irabu and Kei Igawa have taken a less glamorous turn. Some excel immediately, like rookie of the year Ichiro Suzuki, while others, like Kaz Matsui, seem to blossom only after an adjustment period.

While each of the last few years has featured a player or two, 2008 should see the debut of more big-name Japanese players than any other season. Since they're often excluded from rookie and prospect lists, we decided to take a quick look at each, just so you remember they exist.

These are the twelve Japanese ballplayers that every prospect-hound should know about, shown with their last-known mailing address. We're listing them here according to overall desirability: their ranking within our prospect matrix may change in the months to come, especially if they join an MLB club where they have a starting opportunity.

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Kansas City Discovers Japan, and Vice Versa

Setup Specialist Yasuhiko Signs With Royals

The Kansas City Royals, who are most certainly not a contender for Most Glamorous Franchise, today signed Japanese setup man deluxe Yabuta Yasuhiko to a two-year contract for $6M plus incentives.

Yabuta was the primary setup man for the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan's Pacific League, where his most recent manager was Bobby Valentine. The Royals new manager, Trey Hillman, is himself a recent veteran of the Japanese leagues, where he managed the Nippon Ham Fighters. Hillman's experience in Japan was a big factor in bringing in the coveted reliever.    More...

Bats Outmuscle Arms on Prospect List

2008 Pool Looks Deep in Outfield Bats

Last year's prospect pool was deep in pitching, with instant stars like Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Lincecum, Andrew Miller and Clay Buchholz taking up the spotlight from Day One. This season, though, might be the season of the bat.   More...

About Scouting Book

Why and How We Do All This

ScoutingBook.com is the backyard toolshed of a handful of swell fellas (and one sassy lady) who live, work or breathe baseball, online gaming, or both. We use Scouting Book as our own touchstone to collect and share our opinions, rankings, and ideas about baseball prospecting in a connected world. We're also sharing these opinions and rankings here for those who may be interested.   More...

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