Bryan Smith's annual listing of the top 75 (100, with the honorable mentions) prospects in the game, over on the excellent Baseball Analysts site is definitely worth a read. The results? The Boston system is stacked:
#9: Andy Marte (3b)
#14: Jon Lester (sp)
#22: Jon Papelbon (sp)
#42: Dustin Pedroia (inf)
#50: Craig Hansen (rp)
It is suggested that the Sox could deal/lose both Wells and Clement and be no worse off with Lester and Papelbon stepping in.
The Yanks? They're not doing too badly either, considering some of the top talent is fairly low in the system, and not making this list. But they do have a few:
#46: Phil Hughes (sp)
#56: Eric Duncan (3b)
HM: Cristian Garcia (sp)
Some of the Yankee observers we've seen don't even count Garcia in the organization top 10, so his appearance here is a sign of a little depth.
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Most of you, especially the likes of Spidey, are aware of why I awoke in such a great mood today - aside from all the great things SF spoke of that already made me happy.
Let me remind you :
THE BRONCOS BABY!!!!!!!!!
After reading the mindless quotes most of you decieded to throw out there at the Broncos and their leader Jake Plummer I opted to keep my mouth shut until, well, right now.
MMMMMMMMM. Crow.
Posted by: Brad-SF | Sunday, January 15, 2006 at 09:21 AM
You just made me feel even worse than I already do, Brad. I know you have the right to gloat, but come on. That was awful last night. I can't watch football for the next three weeks now. But I really hope the Broncos beat the Colts next week. Although that's not likely. They didn't even play that great last night. The Pats just played horribly. This sucks.
Posted by: Laura | Sunday, January 15, 2006 at 10:17 AM
Insult to injury Dept: The New York Times sports section banner lead story: defeat of the Pats? Nope! Girls figure skating!
Awesome.
Posted by: YF | Sunday, January 15, 2006 at 10:25 AM
Awww, yeeeah, Brad. How 'bout them BRONCOS!!! AFC Championship, here we come! Huge game from special teams (Todd Sauerbrun with the monster hit!) and the D. I have to admit that Plummer still concerns me, though. Great with his feet, but still throwing off his back foot and I don't know...it's like he still wants to be Bret Favre, except he doesn't have Favre's, um, skillz. And admittedly, the Pats just played an uncharacteristicly sloppy game. I mean, when do they ever give up 5 turnovers? When does Brady make a bad decision in the red zone? When does Vinatieri actually miss an important FG? I'm not trying to be a nervous Nellie, but man, all that happened and we only won by 14. We'll have to turn it up quite a bit if we want to beat the Steelers, who are hot, or jeez, the Colts in Indy. Anyway, today we can relax and celebrate and watch the other games...
Two games to go!!
Posted by: Spidey | Sunday, January 15, 2006 at 11:07 AM
ps - Was that Bailey pick a crazy play or what? Where the hell did Ben Watson come from??? Bailey makes a great interception, runs 100 yards, is at the 1 about to do his little dance, and Watson flys in from the right side of the screen and absolutely decimates him. It was like the the line drive that causes Charlie Brown's shoes, socks, and hat to all go flying off in different directions. And, actually, it did look like a touchback. Too close to overturn, but I think we got lucky there. (As with that key pass interference call early in the game with the pass to Lelie.)
Posted by: Spidey | Sunday, January 15, 2006 at 11:14 AM
You know the world has turned upside-down when the Pats turn the ball over 5 times, YF stoops to insulting a rival city's football team to get some attention, and Murray Chass actually cites something or someone that praises the despised Red Sox. Let's get this back on-topic, so I hereby present, from today's Times, a passage from our least favorite sunday column:
Seeing Boston From Cleveland
Cleveland's unexpected run at the American League Central championship last season validated the outstanding work Mark Shapiro has done in four years as the Indians' general manager. The job he has done integrating minor league talent with veteran players makes his assessment of the Red Sox all the more interesting
"Boston is positioned extremely well for the future," Shapiro said. "They have a good farm system with upper-level players and a depth of pitching talent. They've rebuilt the farm system from a dilapidated system to a productive one. If they take a small step backward this year, at some point they will go on a run that will be an impressive run. They're a short period away."
We couldn't agree more. Go Seahawks.
Posted by: SF | Sunday, January 15, 2006 at 11:40 AM
I hate to say it, but the Mets system has really done well of late. If they had kept Kasmir, my god, imagine where they might be in two years: 3 home-grown frontline starters (kaz, pelfrey, petit), david wright (future mvp candidate, for sure), reyes, milledge.....
Thankfully, they're the Mets, and will figure out some way to screw this up.
Posted by: YF | Sunday, January 15, 2006 at 11:47 AM
brad, how can you live with yourself? RSN is in mourning, and you, a turncoat, gloat.;)
Posted by: Nick | Sunday, January 15, 2006 at 12:05 PM
if they take a small step backward this year
Of course, he's being polite — he means the Sox will finish third or fourth this year.
YanksFanMetsFan this year?
Posted by: john | Sunday, January 15, 2006 at 04:23 PM
Back to football briefly (sry)--I'm no longer depressed bc I just saw on Yahoo that the Steelers beat the Colts!! Yes!!!!!!!! My hate of the Colts has overcome my depression, so I'm once again a happy camper, at least temporarily.
Posted by: Laura | Sunday, January 15, 2006 at 04:52 PM