Ah yes, my personal Top 100. As well as being an avid follower of the Phillies minor leaguers, I’ve always closely followed the systems of other teams. I find player development really interesting, as well as the draft process, and when you start following these guys in high school and college, it’s always natural to continue to follow them when they enter pro ball, even if it’s not for your favorite team. A few caveats, before I get to my list. I shouldn’t really have to outline this, but there will invariably be someone who flies off, if they happen to find my blog and they read about me ranking prospects in a certain order. I’m not a scout, I don’t profess to be a scout, and while I know a few people, my network pales in comparison to those at BP, BA, ESPN, and every other prospect authority in the business. My knowledge comes from reading what others have to say, discerning useful info from those reports, watching these prospects when I can, and looking at basic peripheral numbers. Every prospect list out there is going to contain guys that fall flat on their face, as well as guys placed higher than the “consensus opinion”, and some of those guys will go on to be stars. I generally don’t worry about where the group think position is on a player. There are some guys who are generally loved that I’m not as high on (Homer Bailey), and some guys that aren’t loved that aren’t love as much (Omar Poveda) that I really like. These lists are just guesses as to who will and who won’t make it at the next level, and above everything else, I think it’s a lot of fun. So now that I got the disclaimers out of the way…

01. Evan Longoria, 3B (TAM)

Not a whole lot of analysis required here. He’s gonna hit for average, he has 30+ HR power, oh and he’s a very good defensive 3B. What more could you want in a prospect? He’s close to major league ready, and could spend the entire season on the major league roster. His defensive position gives him the edge over..

02. Jay Bruce, OF (CIN)

Bruce rocketed through the minors this year, finishing in 3A, and put up great numbers across the board. He’ll likely end up in RF once he’s settled in. He probably won’t hit for as high an average as Longoria, but he could hit 40+ HR a year, and he’ll draw some walks to make up for the lower batting average.

03. Clay Buchholz, RHP (BOS)

Set aside his no hitter in his second pro start and look at the sheer domination during his 2007 minor league season. In 125 IP, he struck out lots of guys (171), he didn’t walk many (35), and he proved tough to hit, allowing only 87 hits and 9 home runs. It says a lot about an elite pitching prospect when his weakest pitch is his fastball, which still grades out as above average. His changeup and breaking ball are filthy, and his control is excellent. Perfect pitcher’s frame, smooth mechanics, yeah, he’s legit.

04. Colby Rasmus, OF (STL)

Rasmus was drafted in 2005, a banner class for prep outfielders, and looks like the future in centerfield for the Cardinals. He won’t hit .300 in the majors, but he can draw his share of walks, he’ll hit for power, he’ll steal 15-20 bags a year, and he’ll play an excellent centerfield. Rasmus put up a .932 OPS this season in 2A as a 20 year old. Very impressive stuff.

05. Johnny Cueto, RHP (CIN)

Ahhh, the first one that will really make you shake your head. That’s fine by me. Cueto dominated across three levels in 2007 as a 21 year old, including 21 K to 2 BB in 22 innings at 3A. He doesn’t have the same raw stuff as fellow Reds prospect Homer Bailey, but what he does have is excellent stuff, and more importantly, excellent control. He keeps the ball in the park, he induces lots of swings and misses (170 K in 161 IP), and he doesn’t issue a lot of free passes. Scouts seem worried by his small size (5’11, 175), but really, should we nitpick? He logged a controlled 138 innings as a 20 year old last year, and 161 innings in 2007 as a 21 year old, and as I mentioned, he finished the year with a flourish in 3A. While he lacks the raw dominating stuff of, say, Joba Chamberlain, he’s been very durable and he has great control, something I feel is extremely important when looking at young pitchers. I’ll gladly stick him here and see what happens.

06. Travis Snider, OF (TOR)

Snider can flat out rake. He put up a .902 OPS in the Midwest League as a 19 year old in 2007. As you know, the Midwest League is a very pitcher friendly league, making his accomplishment that much more impressive. He followed it up with a .944 OPS in the Arizona Fall League, where he was one of the youngest players among all prospects. Snider won’t have much defensive value, but his bat is special.

07. Joba Chamberlain, RHP (NYY)

Chamberlain became a bit of a folk hero in 2007, and developed a legion of….shall we say, passionate supporters. I’m sure I’ll receive a few death threats for not ranking him #1. His raw stuff is probably as good as that of Buchholz, and maybe a tick or two better than Cueto, but I still remember his pre-draft report, indicating that he had some physical red flags and that medicals on his arm weren’t good. The Yankees broke him in as a reliever, and have indicated that he’ll start this year, but I’m not convinced they are telling the truth. If he’s used as a reliever and groomed to be the future closer, it would be a waste of his talent, and as I place less value on closers, I’ll preemptively drop him down this list…..all the way to #7. The horror of it all!

08. Andy LaRoche, 3B (LAD)

You know, it’s weird. I think the only people who don’t consider LaRoche a bona fide star in the making are the Dodgers. They jerked LaRoche around a bit this year, and have already put pressure on him this spring, telling him he’s in direct competition with Nomar Ham….err..Garrciaparra for the 3B gig. LaRoche is an excellent contact hitter with 30+ HR power, who can play a solid 3B, he basically just needs the reps. And hey, if the Dodgers want to discard him for a re-tread veteran, I’ll gladly have him on the Phillies. Wait, we have F-E-L-I-Z. We’re set. Anyway..

09. Clayton Kershaw, LHP (LAD)

Kershaw is the top left handed pitching prospect in the minors. On top of a mid 90’s fastball, he has a hammer curveball and an improving changeup. He made it all the way to 2A last year after embarrassing hitters in the Midwest League. The one knock on him at this point is his control, but it’s a small concern, and one that will more than likely be erased this season. It probably wouldn’t hurt for him to get a full season at 2A this year, but LA will probably rush him to the majors. He’s a legit #1 starter when all is said and done.

10. Wade Davis, RHP (TAM)

I think I’m one of the biggest Wade Davis fans out there, and will rank him higher than his fellow Rays pitching prospects. He’s got plus stuff, he has a sturdy pitcher’s frame, and he’s remained healthy for two consecutive seasons. The Rays need lots and lots of pitching, and I think Davis will help answer those needs, probably in 2009.

11. Joey Votto, 1B (CIN)

Votto had a nice 2006 after a disappointing 2005, and scouts wondered if the 2006 was for real. Votto followed it up with an even better 2007, where he hit for average (.294) and power (22 HR), while also playing a solid 1B. In a brief 84 AB in the majors, he only hit .321/.360/.548 with 4 HR…..the Scott Hatteberg era should officially be over in Cinci.

12. David Price, LHP (TAM)

The consensus #1 college pitcher last summer, Price lived up to the lofty expectations. We have zero pro numbers to go on, so it might be strange to rank him this highly, but with 3 plus pitches and excellent velocity/command from the left side, I don’t think it’s an awfully big risk on mine or anyone else’s part to rank him here.

13. Chase Headley, 3B/OF (SDP)

Headley had a breakout campaign in 2007, blistering the Texas League to the tune of a 1.017 OPS. For reasons only the Padres know, they are talking about moving Headley to LF to accommodate the incumbent, Kevin Kouzmanoff. Kouz had a nice 2nd half at the plate, but he’s a butcher at 3B, and Headley would represent a clear upgrade. Either way, Headley’s bat will play at the Major League level, no matter where he lines up on defense, with good on base skills, a bunch of strikeouts, and 25-30 HR power.

14. Jarrod Parker, RHP (ARI)

I might be reaching here, but Parker is a personal favorite, and one of the guys I’m willing to stick my neck out on. A fairly obscure prospect prior to Spring 2007, Parker shot up the scouting boards with a blistering fastball clocked in the upper 90’s and a hammer breaking ball. Some worry about his size (he’s 6’0), but he has a lightning fast arm and doesn’t really have a lot of effort in his delivery, which makes me think he won’t really have to deal with workload related breakdowns. I see a legit #1 starter here.

15. Daric Barton, 1B (OAK)

Barton just hits. He hits all day and hits all night. He rebounded from a tough 2006 with a solid 2007, hitting .293 as a 21 year old in 3A, and getting a brief MLB cameo at the end of the season. Barton has an incredible eye at the plate, amassing 313 walks to only 266 strikeouts in his 4+ pro seasons. The biggest question about Barton seems to be his power, or lack thereof. His single season high is 13 HR in the minors, which he did as an 18 year old in the MWL, and again as a 19 year old in the CAL/Texas League. Even if he’s nothing more than a 15-18 HR hitter a year, he is likely capable of a .400+ OB% at the major league level, with at least passable defense at 1B, or more likely, the DH role.

16. Carlos Triunfel, SS (SEA)

The Mariners are notorious for aggressive promotions in their system, and it doesn’t get more aggressive than rushing a 17 year old to High A. Triunfel responded by hitting .287 in the Cal League, and showing good actions at shortstop. Many believe he’ll have to move to 3B as he loses his quickness and range, but the fact that he already has incredible contact skills for what is equivalent to a high school junior shows you what you need to know about his potential. He’s yet to hit a home run as a pro, but scouts think the power will come around as he fills out. He could reach 2A as an 18 year old, and could do more than just hold his head above water…

17. Rick Porcello, RHP (DET)

The consensus top prep arm in the draft, and some were calling him the best high school pitcher drafted since Josh Beckett. I like just about everything about him, and I only put him slightly behind Parker because his command wasn’t quite as good in high school. It’s nitpicking, and I think both guys end up as ML studs.

18. Brett Anderson, LHP (OAK)

Another pick that kind of goes against the grain. Anderson doesn’t have the raw stuff of some of the guys who I’ll rank below him, but he does have a few advantages. First, he’s lefthanded, second he still has very good raw stuff, but more importantly, he has excellent command, and as his father was a pitching coach, he’s always received good coaching on the approach to the game. In 120 innings in 2007, he struck out 125 while walking only 21, and part of that duty came in the hitters paradise known as the Cal League. He did this at 19, which indicates to me that his stuff still could firm up a bit, and his 6’4 frame should be conducive to logging a fair amount of innings. I’ll take the guys with good raw stuff and excellent command/control over flamethrowers who don’t know where the ball is going.

19. Reid Brignac, SS (TAM)

Brignac’s breakout came last season, where he torched the Cal and Southern leagues to the tune of a .915 OPS, playing a premium defensive position. He came back to Earth a bit in 2007, posting a .761 OPS in the Southern League as a 21 year old. What he did do, however, was improve his peripherals, drawing more walks and striking out fewer times, while also racking up 52 extra base hits. More importantly, he improved his defense at shortstop, and now looks like he’ll stick there as a pro, after some questions about him possibly having to move to 3B. I’m buying low here and anticipating a big year.

20. Matt Wieters, C (BAL)

Baltimore finally got with the program and took the best available player in the draft, after the Pirates did them a favor and passed on Wieters to take a relief pitcher. Potential 5 tool catchers are rare, and while I don’t see Wieters being a stolen base threat, he does possess the ability to hit for average, power, and play solid defense. The only real concern right now is his size…he’s already 6’5, and some think he might keep growing. You don’t see many 6’7 catchers, do you?

The rest of the blurbs will be shorter, like, one sentence. If you really take offense to some of these rankings…well that’s your problem, not mine.

21. Jake McGee, LHP (TAM)

Plus plus velocity for a lefty, but is basically a one pitch pitcher right now. Needs to refine his secondary stuff and improve command, but still has a high ceiling.

22. Tim Alderson, RHP (SFG)

A reach, maybe, but I love pitchers with funky deliveries, especially if they have really good stuff and incredible command. Alderson is a keeper, and should move quickly.

23. Hank Conger, C (LAA)

Gotta love catchers with 30 HR power. Will he remain a catcher? We’ll see, I doubt it, but the bat should play anywhere, and he should draw his share of walks, even if he doesn’t end up hitting .300

24. Cameron Maybin, OF (FLA)

Maybe this is an overreaction and I’m downgrading him too much, but I’m not sold. Very long swing, lots of holes, lots to work on, and I see Florida stunting his growth by keeping him in the majors this season. Then again, no real pressure to win or perform in Florida, so…

25. Lars Anderson, 1B (BOS)

If you’re a 1B prospect, you better rake, and Lars sure does. Great pure hitter, draws some walks, plays a good 1B. Good hitter this Lars is.

26. Jason Heyward, OF (ATL)

A reach, maybe, but Heyward is a freakish athlete who honestly looks like he be a linebacker. He’ll play almost the entire 2008 season as an 18 year old, and will probably inflict lots of pain on Sally League pitchers.

27. Ross Detwiler, LHP (WAS)

Great raw stuff from the left side, pretty decent delivery, good control (in college), and on the fast track with Washington. A potential #2 who is closer to the majors than a lot of prospects on this list.

28. Jacoby Ellsbury, OF (BOS)

Ellsbury is probably going to be a more defensive oriented standout as opposed to an offensive machine, but he should still hit close to .300 with 30+ steals a year and gold glove defense. That’ll work, no?

29. Desmond Jennings, OF (TAM)

Fast riser last season, after an excellent Sally League campaign. Looks like a young Carl Crawford, capable of swiping a bag and knocking one out of the park, while playing a respectable center field.

30. Nick Adenhart, RHP (LAA)

Some folks are panicking after a less than awesome season in the Texas League. Have no fear Halos fans, young Nick was only 20, and will bounce back in 2008, showcasing those three plus pitches with solid command.

31. Josh Vitters, 3B (CHC)

Vitters struggled in his debut, but I’m not concerned about that at all. A sweet swinger, he’ll hit .300 with 25-30 HR power in the majors, but will he do it as a 3B? Magic 8 ball says……”consider other defensive options”..

32. Omar Poveda, RHP (TEX)

Ok, so his fastball only sits in the 89-92 range. But you know what, dude was dealing last year in the MWL. Yeah, he was repeating the league, but he was only 19. What impresses me is the control, as he struck out 153 while walking only 45 in 2007, including a 3:1 ratio in the Cal League. I’m impressed, and I think his raw stuff will actually get a bit better in 2008, and his dominance will continue. Or he’ll suck. But I’m on board for the long haul.

33. Mike Moustakas, SS (KCR)

A divisive prospect, some see stardom, some see pretty decent hitter. I see stardom. But at what position? His bat will carry him to the bigs, they can find a spot for him to play when the time arises.

34. Franklin Morales, LHP (COL)

Everyone is on the Morales bandwagon. I’m still skeptical, because I wonder what happens his 2nd time around the league. His control still isn’t very good, though it’s hard to argue with 98 mph gas and a sharp slider.

35. Homer Bailey, RHP (CIN)

Maybe I’m “giving up” too soon. Maybe Bailey was rushed. I don’t know. But I’ve never been a huge fan, and until he alleviates the control issues he has, I’m going to keep him in this range of my list.

36. Brandon Wood, SS/3B (LAA)

Like Adenhart, I think people are jumping off the bandwagon too quickly. He’s gonna hit 30 HR in the majors per year, and he’ll have a .350-.360 OB% with his ability to draw walks. Does that sound valuable? I’d say so.

37. Chris Marrero, OF/1B (WAS)

Marrero will hit, he’ll probably hit for power, but he’ll likely end up at 1B. That’s not that big a deal, but it does take some of the luster off of his prospect status. Nevertheless, he should be a middle of the lineup type bat.

38. Geovany Soto, C (CHC)

No prospect jumped up lists more than Soto. Was his breakout in 2007 for real? Was it really just his weight that was the issue? I don’t know, I’m still kind of skeptical. But I think he will hit in the majors, not sure about the power though. We’ll see.

39. Jordan Schafer, OF (ATL)

I’m generally skeptical of guys who put up pedestrian numbers for 2-3 seasons, then suddenly just flip the switch and tear it up. Schafer sets off those warning signs for me, but it really could just be a guy growing into his tools. I could honestly bump him up 5 slots of drop him 15. But I’ll leave him here.

40. Fautino De Los Santos, RHP (OAK)

Another of the eleventy billion prospects the A’s traded for. FDLS has a quality fastball and the makings of decent secondary pitches. I have a feeling he’ll either jump up 20 spots next year, or down 40 spots.

41. Austin Jackson, OF (NYY)

Kind of the same deal as Shafer, I could have dropped him down, and he might be part of the NYY hype machine, but then again, non-hype machine guys seem to like him too. I don’t know, we’ll see. Schafer is closer to the majors, so he goes higher.

42. Andrew McCutchen, OF (PIT)

I don’t know, I might be undervaluing him here, but I don’t see the power potential that others see. I know he’s young, and he has a wiry strong frame, but he has only 30 HR in 1200+ minor league AB’s. He might flip the switch and become a 25 HR hitter in the majors, or he might be a 12-15 HR a year guy. But with his speed and contact ability, it shouldn’t matter.

43. Wes Hodges, 3B (CLE)

I probably rate Hodges higher than his family and friends. That’s cool, because he can hit, and he’ll definitely stick at 3B. Cleveland doesn’t have anyone, unless you consider Casey Blake anyone, blocking his path to the majors. He should be a good #5/6 hitter in a good lineup, putting up solid numbers across the board.

44. Ian Kennedy, RHP (NYY)

Kennedy is what he is, a solid #3 starter. He lacks the dominant raw stuff of the higher ranked guys, but has good command and a good changeup. Pitching in the AL East won’t do him any favors, but getting the run support that lineup will provide certainly will.

45. Angel Villalona, 3B/1B/DH (SFG)

Baby V is a masher, and looks like he could become the next Miguel Cabrera. He put up a .772 OPS in the Arizona Summer League as a 16 year old. A 16 year old. Yeah, I think his bat is going to be kind of special.

46. Eric Hurley, RHP (TEX)

Another guy who people are bailing on. Not so fast. Had a mediocre year in 2007, but was only 21 and pitching in the hitter friendly PCL. Still has a power fastball and hard slider. Needs to keep the ball down, still a good middle of the rotation workhorse.

47. Billy Rowell, 3B/1B (BAL)

Rowell is a beast of man, already 6’6 and only 18 years old. His numbers weren’t great in 2007, but he was 2 years younger than the average prospect in the SAL, and he still possesses 40+ HR power down the line, it just might come at 1B instead of 3B.

48. Trevor Cahill, RHP (OAK)

One of the few top prospects in the A’s system before they traded for their eleventy billion new prospects. Cahill has a perfect pitcher’s frame, very good raw stuff, and a good idea on the mound. No need to rush him, but he should turn into a real good front of the rotation starter.

49. Elvis Andrus, SS (TEX)

Andrus is tough for me to rank. Is he going to hit enough in the majors to be a regular? By all accounts, his glove is excellent, but what kind of hitter will he be? He’s still very projectable, and if he does turn into at least an average hitter, he deserves to be ranked higher on this list. I’m just less sure of that than some.

50. Chris Tillman, RHP (BAL)

One of the O’s newly acquired prospects. Perfect pitcher’s frame, held his own in the rough and tumble confines of the Cal League. Has an excellent fastball and developing secondary pitches. If Baltimore slows him down, he could develop into an elite starter.

51. Jed Lowrie, SS (BOS)

I’m stil skeptical. I saw him play 2 years ago when he struggled and just didn’t look right at the plate. He’s made strides apparently, and everyone is on board. I’m a bit more hesitant, but I think he’ll be at least an average major leaguer, probably at 2B or 3B though.

52. Carlos Gonzalez, OF (OAK)

Gonzalez is a great athlete with lots of potential, but he hasn’t really turned it on for an entire season to date. He’s not an OB% machine, but he does have good raw power and should hit for a decent average in the bigs, while playing a credible CF or RF.

53. Jose Tabata, OF (NYY)

I think Tabata is a product of the NYY hype machine, but he also did hit .307 as an 18 year old in High A, so I will give him credit. The power that was supposed to emerge still hasn’t, and he’s not going to be the stolen base threat that some thought he’d be when he was signed.

54. Jeff Clement, C (SEA)

I think I might like Clement less than most. I see him as a .280/.350/.450 guy, which I guess is solid, but I don’t think he’ll do it as a catcher, which is what was inflating his value in the minors. If he’s a 1B, he’s barely a league average hitter.

55. Jeremy Hellickson (TAM)

Solid all around prospect, fairly smooth mechanics, good stuff, durable frame. Might “only” be a #4 starter, but should definitely remain in the rotation, and could be a bit better than a #4.

56. Matt Antonelli, 2B (SDP)

Good contact hitter, but more of a “grinder” than a star in the making, me thinks. I think he’ll end up in the OF, which will reduce some of his value, as his bat will need to be better than I think it will end up being.

57. Gio Gonzalez, LHP (OAK)

There’s our old friend. I think getting traded to Oakland, where he’ll work in a large park with spacious foul ground will only help him, as he is a fly ball pitcher who will issue his share of walks.

58. Aaron Poreda, LHP (CHW)

Dude has a filthy fastball with plus plus velocity, but not a whole lot else at this point. From his arm slot, I don’t see a reliable breaking ball coming, but I might be wrong.

59. Neil Walker, 3B (PIT)

Walker’s value, like Clement’s, was tied to him sticking at C. The Pirates already ended that experiment, moving him to 3B. I’m not convinced he sticks there, and could see him winding up in LF. If he does, his bat will need to be even better than it is now.

60. Matt LaPorta, OF/1B/DH (MIL)

I’m not big on Matt LaPorta. Everyone got excited with his debut, but he was old for his level, really old (23 in Low A), and he was beating up on tired arms. He slumped his junior year in college before bouncing back last year. I envision him as a .255-.270 hitter with 30-35 HR power. That’s valuable, but it will likely come for another team, as I don’t think the OF experiment will last very long, and the Brewers have some guy named Prince at 1B. Watch, he’ll go all Ryan Braun and make me look like a horse’s ass. Yeah well.
61. Jordan Walden, RHP (LAA)

Walden was considered one of the top prep arms in the 2006 draft, but slumped that spring and ended up a draft and follow for the Angels. They signed him, and it looks like the right move. He has a really big fastball, and #1/2 potential, he just needs innings and a reliable breaking ball.

62. Greg Reynolds, RHP (COL)

Reynolds is puzzling, because he’s got a huge frame, he has good pure stuff, but he doesn’t really strike out as many guys as he should. If he can continue to generate lots of groundballs and saw off bats, he should be fine.

63. Dan Cortes, RHP (KCR)

Cortes made some small alterations to his delivery and it resulted in his stuff spiking up and improving across the board. He’s still young and could feature 2, maybe 3 plus pitches before he’s a finished product. Outside shot at a solid #2 starter here.

64. Michael Bowden, RHP (BOS)

Bowden survived the Cal League along with fellow prospect Justin Masterson, but didn’t have the same type of success in 2A. He was only 20 years old though, and unlike Masterson, I think he’ll remain a starter, and could develop into a solid #4, if not more.

65. Fernando Martinez, OF (NYM)

I don’t know. I guess Martinez has to get credit for surviving 2A as an 18 year old, that’s pretty rare, but he really hasn’t put up decent numbers (.707 OPS), while scouts seem split on him. I’m a big age related to level guy, but come on F-Mart, show me something.

66. Jair Jurrjens, RHP (ATL)

Jurrjens has good stuff, pretty good command, but he’s always had to deal with minor knocks here and there, and he missed time near the end of 2007 with minor arm ailments. If he’s healthy, I’d bump him up a few spots. But until he pitches a full season, I’ll keep him here.

67. James McDonald, RHP (LAD)

I’m bullish on McDonald, a converted outfielder who is still new to pitching, but who has already found excellent control of above average stuff. Normally it takes conversion projects a while to learn how to harness their strong arms, but McDonald seems ahead of the game.

68. Carlos Carrasco, RHP (PHI)

I think I might actually be underselling Carrasco, but he’s still got a lot of areas to work on. He’s always walked too many guys, even during his stellar 2006 campaign. The raw stuff is there, if he can improve his arm speed on his changeup and tighten his control, I think he’s still a #2 starter. The Phillies should do the right thing and slow him down, allowing him to pitch an entire season in 2A at age 21.

69. Luke Hochevar, RHP (KCR)

Hochey’s draft story has been told lots of times, and unfortunately, he’s still living off of his draft hype. His fastball is good, his control was decent last year, and his spike curve is still a good pitch, but he didn’t really blow anyone away last year, and he didn’t pitch like a #1 overall pitcher. I think there’s room for improvement here, and I think he’s still a decent bet as a middle of the rotation starter.

70. Ryan Kalish, OF (BOS)

Kalish was mashing in the NYPL, a notoriously pitcher friendly league before he broke a bone in his hand. I envision a Jacoby Ellsbury clone but with 20 HR power.

71. Brandon Jones, OF (ATL)

You don’t hear as much hype on Jones as maybe a few seasons ago, but he’s still hitting, and his time in Atlanta could come very soon…..like, April 2008.

72. Justin Masterson, RHP (BOS)

Masterson bulldozed his way through the Cal League with his power sinker. I think he’s likely a reliever, so I have to downgrade him there, but he could still be a solid setup guy, and there’s some value in that. He doesn’t seem likely to close, at least in Boston with that Papelwhatshisname guy in front of him on the depth chart. I guess he might be able to stick as a starter, but as a two pitch guy, he’d likely really only be a #5 starter. Maybe he’s the new Jake Westbrook, only better?

73. Mat Gamel, 3B (MIL)

I’m suspicious about guys named Mat who only spell their name with one “t”, but he can hit, he just can’t field the ball, as he’s been an absolute butcher at 3B. Milwaukee has a crowded OF, and no openings at 1B, so if he can’t stick at 3B, where does that leave him?

74. Taylor Teagarden, C (TEX)

A top catching prospect before having TJ surgery, slowly becoming a top catching prospect once more as he regains his arm strength. Will he hit enough to be an above average regular? Well, if Yadier Molina is a big league regular while hitting like .200, I guess Teagarden can be too.

75. Will Inman, RHP (SDP)

There couldn’t have been a better place for Inman to be traded to than San Diego. A flyball pitcher with excellent command of average to slightly above average stuff, he should greatly benefit from the spacious confines of PETCO. He did pitch well near the end of the 2A season, and I think people are jumping off the bandwagon a bit too soon here.

76. Chris Davis, 3B/1B (TEX)

Davis is a free swinging masher who isn’t very good defensively, and who will strike out a ton. Will he draw enough walks to be an impact bat? He’ll likely have to make it at 1B or a corner OF spot.

77. Jeff Locke, LHP (ATL)

Atlanta has handled him with kids gloves, but he’s got special stuff from the left side, and he already has flashed excellent control at a young age. He should turn some heads in the Sally League this year.

78. German Duran, 2B (TEX)

Duran is coming on strong, flashing good all around offensive tools in 2007. The big question is where he ends up defensively. Texas has Ian Kinsler at 2B and Michael Young at SS. Young isn’t a good defender, but can Duran play SS? Probably not.

79. Gorkys Hernandez, OF (ATL)

Hernandez is a speedy CF, acquired with Jurrjens in the Edgar Renteria deal. I don’t see much power, but I can envision him hitting .280-.295 with some stolen bases and lots of doubles. That will play just fine.

80. Michael Burgess, OF (WAS)

Burgess was a guy I didn’t want the Phillies to take, because I thought he seemed like Greg Golson 2.0. Well, he had a blistering debut in the GCL, showing real good power. He did, however, strike out 60 times in 198 AB’s, so he could struggle as he moves to Low A and faces better pitchers. He did draw 35 walks, which seems like more than Greg Golson has drawn in his entire minor league career. But I digress…

81. Aaron Cunningham, OF (OAK)

Cunningham doesn’t seem to get a lot of credit from scouting types, who see him as a grinder type 4th OF. I have to disagree, as he’s a lifetime .304 hitter in 3 minor league seasons, is only 21, and amassed 57 extra base hits last season across 3 leagues. He’s less blocked in Oakland than he would have been in Arizona, and he might get his shot this season at some point.

82. Jamie Garcia, LHP (STL)

Garcia has great pure stuff from the left side, but he’s also got some injury concerns. I could have ranked him 15-20 spots higher based purely on stuff, but I could have also dropped him off my Top 100 all together because of the injury worries.

83. Kyle Blanks, 1B (SDP)

People kind of just brush him aside as a hulking slugger who won’t hit at the higher levels of the minors. While that is a possibility, he did hit 24 HR in the Cal League this year as a 20 year old, and he also racked up 31 doubles to go along with the home runs. He’s always going to strike out a lot, but he could be a 3 true outcomes type guy that might be better suited in the AL where he can DH. He’s got time though, and he’ll have to be moved at some point with Adrian Gonzalez entrenched at 1B for the foreseeable future in San Diego.

84. Dexter Fowler, OF (COL)

I probably should rank Fowler higher, but I want to see him recover from his injury plagued 2007 before I jump him back up the list. He does have 4/5 tool potential as a centerfielder.
85. Jake Arrieta, RHP (BAL)

I might be reaching here, but maybe not. Arrieta is a classic 3 pitch righty, good movement on his fastball, should get his share of groundballs, and should miss some bats too. Jumped straight into the Arizona Fall League after signing and more than held his own. Solid #3 starter in my (theoretical) book.

86. Chin-Lung Hu, SS (LAD)

Hu was regarded as a defensive specialist with not much of a bat prior to 2007, but suddenly turned into a hitting machine in 2A/3A. He’ll have to wait a year with Furcal still under contract, and even if the bat isn’t really what his 2007 level was, he should still challenge for the starting gig in 2009.

87. Steven Pearce, 1B/OF (PIT)

Pearce has been raking in the minors, but has always been old for his level, sometimes 2-3 years too old. He’s likely going to end up at 1B in the majors long term, maybe even DH, and he’ll need his bat to carry him.

88. Beau Mills, 1B/3B (CLE)

Another guy, like LaPorta, that I’m just not as high on. He’s not a 3B, that experiment didn’t last long, which basically leaves him at 1B, DH, or a corner OF spot, which seems unlikely. He put up video game numbers in college, but in the NAIA, so he hasn’t really faced top level pitching with any regularity. I’ll wait and see what he does in his first full season before getting too excited.

89. Tyler Herron, RHP (STL)

Herron had a real nice 2007 in the SAL, showing excellent control and keeping the ball in the yard, allowing only 7 HR in 137 IP. His stuff isn’t dominant, but if the control remains at its present level and he can sharpen his secondary stuff, I can see him as a good #4 starter.

90. Ian Stewart, 3B/2B (COL)

Stewart lit the world on fire in 2004, but since then, he’s slowly been sliding backwards, and his prospect star has begun to dim a bit. He’s not likely to displace Garrett Atkins at 3B any time soon, and the club doesn’t seem too jazzed with him playing 2B. Is he headed for utilityman status already?

91. Adrian Cardenas, 2B (PHI)

So I rank Cardenas ahead of Carrasco on my Phillies Top 30, and then put Carrasco ahead of Cardenas on my Top 100? Yeah, I know. I still think I like Cardenas more going forward, but Carrasco is closer to the majors, and his ceiling is probably higher than that of Cardenas, so I’ll use that as my rationale. I still think Cardenas’ bat will take off in 2008 in a more hitter neutral environment, it’s just going to be a matter of where he plays on the diamond that impacts his overall value.

92. Cody Johnson, OF (ATL)

Johnson really scuffled in his debut, but man did he have an impressive campaign in 2007, at least power wise. His swing still has holes, obviously, as the 72 K’s in 243 AB illustrate, but the raw tools are there.

93. James Simmons, RHP (OAK)Simmons was seen as one of the “safest” picks in the draft. He is what he is, a righty with good but not great raw stuff and excellent control/mound savvy. Pitching in Oakland should help his numbers, and he should get there quickly.

94. Cole Rohrbough, LHP (ATL)

Rohrbaugh blew away the Appy League and more than held his own in the SAL. He’s got a plus fastball from the left side and a solid breaking ball. How well he refines his secondary pitches will determine his long term value.

95. Brett Cecil, LHP (TOR)

Cecil pitched here in my backyard (University of Maryland), and was drafted primarily as a reliever, but Toronto allowed him to start to work more on his secondary pitches, and he fared pretty well in that role. He might ultimately end up a reliever, but he has two plus pitches now, and it makes sense to let him start until he proves he can’t. He should move quickly.

96. Aneury Rodriguez, RHP (COL)

Another personal favorite of mine. Doesn’t get a lot of pub in a deep farm system, but quietly put up a pretty darn good campaign in the SAL as a 19 year old, striking out 160 in 152 innings while walking only 48. Asheville, his home park, is a hitter’s paradise, and he posted a .697 OPS allowed on the road compared to an .884 OPS at home. I see good things here in a more neutral environment.

97. Jesus Montero, C (NYY)

Ok, everyone knows he isn’t going to be a catcher long term, but he can swing the lumber, and his bat is going to play, even if he ends up at 1B, which is the likely destination.

98. Chad Huffman, OF (SDP)

Huffman has produced two quality seasons since being drafted. He posted a .924 OPS in the Cal League before being promoted in 2007, and after struggling in the Texas League at first, he finished with an .847 OPS in August. Seems like a fairly underrated prospect to me.

99. JR Towles, C (HOU)

Towles has always been able to hit, but he’s had problems staying healthy throughout his minor league career. Houston appears ready to give him the full time job, but will he hold up? If he can’t Astros fans will get one more glimpse of the out machine known as Brad Ausmus before he stumbles off into the sunset.

100. Carlos Gomez, OF (MIN)

The centerpiece of the Johan Santana deal….I still think the Twins got hosed. People rave about his speed and his “Jose Reyes-like energy and potential”……eh. I don’t think he’s more than a .270 hitter, I don’t see a lot of power. I see Joey Gathright, or maybe a very poor man’s Juan Pierre…..like, bum on the street corner poor. But maybe I’ll be proven wrong.
Just missing the list; Troy Patton, LHP (BAL), Hector Correa, P (FLA), Anthony Swarzak, P (MIN), Matt Latos, P (SDP), Nick Weglarz, OF (CLE), Andrew Lambo, OF (LAD), Joe Savery, P (PHI), John Jaso, C (TAM), Bryan Anderson, C (STL), Tyler Robertson, P (MIN), Billy Buckner, P (ARI), Sean Rodriguez, SS (LAA), Chorye Spoone, P (BAL), Sean Gallagher, P (CHC), Casey Weathers, P (COL), Daniel Moskos, P (PIT), Ben Revere, OF (MIN), Madison Bumgarner, P (SFG), and Engel Beltre, OF (TEX), not necessarily in that order.

There ya go. Print it, save it, rub it in my face when it looks ridiculous in a year. Your choice.