http://www.scoutingbook.com/ We Keep Up on Baseball Prospects, Rookies and Closers so you don't have to. For Fans and Fantasy Players. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:03:00 GMT Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:03:00 GMT Top/Sports/Baseball en-us http://www.scoutingbook.com/gifs/scout-rss-title.gif http://www.scoutingbook.com/ 144 36 12 Mar 2010 00:02:00 PST http://www.scoutingbook.com/blog/Boston-Red-Sox-Top-2010-Prospects http://www.scoutingbook.com/blog/Boston-Red-Sox-Top-2010-Prospects (TOP STORY) Theo Epstein's reinvention of the Red Sox isn't news anymore, but it's still impressive to see how deeply his approach has changed the once-sluggish franchise. The team moves quickly to sign big free agents while keeping a Steve Jobsian veil of secrecy over its negotiations. They sign the most exciting international players, often before other teams have even figured out what's happening. And they continue to draft with serious smarts, keeping the farm pipeline fresh and flowing. From Youkilis to Pedroia to Ellsbury to Lester to Bard to Iglesias, there's never an interruption in the talent supply. As has become usual, today's Red Sox farm is a veritable who's who of top-level baseball prospects. [more...] http://www.scoutingbook.com/closers/?MIN231 http://www.scoutingbook.com/closers/?MIN231 Update: MIN -- As feared, closer Joe Nathan has a torn elbow ligament and will miss significant time, likely the entire 2010 season. He will first try rest and rehab in the hope of avoiding surgery, but he seems a longshot to return the mound before he first revisits the OR. (3/9/2010) http://www.scoutingbook.com/?rss-up3/12/2010 http://www.scoutingbook.com/?up3/12/2010 These prospects have moved up in our composite rankings recently: Dayan Viciedo (#86)... Dan Hudson (#91)... Reid Brignac (#100)... Chris Withrow (#103)... Chad James (#105)... Arodys Vizcaino (#122)... Adam Moore (#183)... Scott Sizemore (#188)... Carlos Gutierrez (#192)... Edward Salcedo (#205)... Leslie Anderson (#225)... Scott Cousins (#271)... Jhan Martinez (#292)... See our detailed prospect rankings for more info. (3/12/2010) http://www.scoutingbook.com/?down3/12/2010 http://www.scoutingbook.com/?down3/12/2010 These prospects have moved down in our composite rankings recently: None. See our detailed prospect rankings for more info. (3/12/2010) 9 Mar 2010 00:02:00 PST http://www.scoutingbook.com/ http://www.scoutingbook.com/blog/New-York-Yankees-Top-2010-Prospects 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...] 9 Mar 2010 09:51:00 PST http://www.scoutingbook.com/ http://www.scoutingbook.com/blog/minnesota-twins-closer-candidates-nathan-2010-12311 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? [more...] 7 Mar 2010 00:02:00 PST http://www.scoutingbook.com/ http://www.scoutingbook.com/blog/Washington-Nationals-Top-2010-Prospects 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...] 5 Mar 2010 00:02:00 PST http://www.scoutingbook.com/ http://www.scoutingbook.com/blog/Florida-Marlins-Top-2010-Prospects 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...] 3 Mar 2010 00:02:00 PST http://www.scoutingbook.com/ http://www.scoutingbook.com/blog/Philadelphia-Phillies-Top-2010-Prospects 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...] 1 Mar 2010 00:02:00 PST http://www.scoutingbook.com/ http://www.scoutingbook.com/blog/Atlanta-Braves-Top-2010-Prospects 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...] 27 Feb 2010 00:02:00 PST http://www.scoutingbook.com/ http://www.scoutingbook.com/blog/New-York-Mets-Top-2010-Prospects 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...] 25 Feb 2010 03:31:00 PST http://www.scoutingbook.com/ http://www.scoutingbook.com/blog/baseball-america-releases-ba-top-100-prospects-for-2010-12510 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...] 24 Feb 2010 00:02:00 PST http://www.scoutingbook.com/ http://www.scoutingbook.com/blog/Toronto-Blue-Jays-Top-2010-Prospects 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...]