Sickles top 20 pirates prospects

[steelparrot]

Pittsburgh Pirates Top 20 Prospects for 2012 - Minor League Ball

He doesnt rate on potential/ceilings as much as BA does.

Not much to argue about imo, its just so hard to rate all the overslots in the low minors. The baseline of talent is there, but who knows how many will breakout and get near their ceilings.

 

[element1286]

Gonna need some breakouts to get up the prospects rankings. There are still some candidates whom we all know the names of that can jump up to the B/B+ range fairly easily.

Disappointing that there are so many C+ guys, and so few B or higher guys, but I like the mix of C+ guys, diverse with room to grow.

 

[thedddd]

I agree and some of those C+ younger propects could easily become B talents like Holmes and Osuna.

 

[element1286]

Tony Sanchez and Allie are rebound candidates. I've been impressed with McPherson's scouting reports, apparently he isn't getting by on just savvy. Doubt there will be many graduations from this group this year; Locke, Wilson, and maybe McPherson or Sanchez.

 

[magnumo]

Just as a point of comparison.....

.....here are Sickels' Top 20 Pirate Prospects from 2006:

1. Neil Walker, C, Grade B+
2. Andrew McCutchen, OF, B+
3. Tom Gorzelanny, LHP, B
4. Paul Maholm, LHP, B-
5. Jose Bautista, 3B, C+
6. Chris Duffy, OF, C+
7. Nate McLouth, OF, C+
8. Matt Capps, RHP, C+
9. Ronny Paulino, C, C+
10. Craig Stansberry, 2B, C+
11. Jonah Bayliss, RHP, C+
12. Brent Lillibridge, SS, C+
13. Chad Blackwell, RHP, C+
14. Josh Sharpless, RHP, C+
15. Matt Swanson, RHP, C+
16. Javier Guzman, SS, C+
17. Bryan Bullington, RHP, C+
18. Adam Boeve, OF, C+
19. Rajai Davis, OF, C
20. Jason Quarles, RHP, C

Note that #1 through #9 all have had major league careers well beyond cups of coffee. Rajai Davis at #19 and Brent Lillibridge at #12 have accomplished that as well.

By contrast, only 3 of the top 10 prospects in 2006 were pitchers.

 

[element1286]

Elvys Gonzalez interests me a lot, seems to be flying way under the radar with two consecutive good seasons, don't know anything about him that doesn't show up on the stat sheet though. Hopefully he starts at AA next year.

 

[steelparrot]

That is a major improvement in grades from 2006, and the 2nd halves of the lists are like night and day.

I wonder what he means by 'Jordy Mercer has several sleeper attributes'. I guess its mostly him being a solid defensive SS with some power. If he 'wakes up', that would be huge.