Community Organizational Prospect List - #1

by Zonis on Nov 25, 2008 8:24 AM PST Comment 37 comments

MinorLeagueBall.com is doing their annual Community Top 100 Prospect List, and while we've had our pseudo lists, I thought it would be a nice idea to go with their format instead of just submitting premade lists of whatever number of prospects. I think it would also be nice to have this earlier in the off season to compare with later acquisitions.

The ultimate number of prospects on the list is not set in stone-I am tempted to go with it until we simply run out of players. To be eligible for the list, the player must be a current A's Prospect, and be eligible for Rookie status in the Majors.

So let us start with the #1 A's Prospect.

Candidates:
SP Trevor Cahill, SP Brett Anderson, OF Aaron Cunningham, IF Chris Carter, SP Gio Gonzalez, SP Michel Inoa, IF Adrian Cardenas, 1B Sean Doolittle, OF Corey Brown, Vincent Mazzaro, James Simmons.

Poll

Who is the A's #1 Prospect entering the 2009 Season?

Trevor Cahill

238 votes

Brett Anderson

125 votes

Chris Carter

12 votes

Sean Doolittle

5 votes

Vin Mazzaro

2 votes

Gio Gonzalez

8 votes

Michel Inoa

10 votes

Corey Brown

1 votes

Adrian Cardenas

3 votes

James Simmons

6 votes

410 votes | Poll has closed

3 recs | Comment 37 comments

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Comments

Cahill/Anderson are probably interchangeable at 1-2.

by mikev on Nov 25, 2008 8:26 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I voted for Anderson,

but i too can see why someone would pick Cahill as #1.

by AEP2007 on Nov 25, 2008 8:33 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

By the way,

good job starting this list Zonis. I’m looking forward to see the results once it’s finished.

by AEP2007 on Nov 25, 2008 8:39 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

seeing

by AEP2007 on Nov 25, 2008 8:49 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I voted Cahil

Both Cahill and Anderson are good choices here but I like the fact that Cahill has a great sinking fastball and a plus knuckle curve. Having two very good pitches in his arsenal gives me a little more confidence in his ability to succeed at the major league level. He’s also a very smart pitcher who seems to have a plan on the mound and has improved his command each year he has been in pro ball.

by DiegoAsFan on Nov 25, 2008 8:59 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

You're right... but you also just described Anderson.

by NateHST on Nov 25, 2008 10:39 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree they are close

The point I was trying to make is that the distinction to me is that I feel Cahill’s sinker and knuckle curve are better pitches than anything Anderson throws. Anderson has command of 4 average to above-average pitches but his lack of a true out pitch pushes him just a notch below Cahill on my rankings.

by DiegoAsFan on Nov 25, 2008 11:52 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I picked Cahill because of his better strikeout rate.

It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver

by WaddellCanseco on Nov 25, 2008 1:27 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

What was the methodology...

…behind MinorLeagueBall.com’s community organizational list: some new Sabermetric stat with the acronym of ACORN?

by LowcountryJoe on Nov 25, 2008 9:15 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

The word "Acorn" has been used four times at minorleagueball... ever.

Translation: I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re talking about.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Nov 25, 2008 9:22 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

It was a crappy attempt at political humor, I think.

by mikev on Nov 25, 2008 9:28 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I laughed

by BlameChannel53 on Nov 25, 2008 10:00 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I cried

"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin

by Helloooo 1st on Nov 25, 2008 12:33 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I remained calm

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Nov 25, 2008 1:31 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Aw nuts.

by LowcountryJoe on Nov 25, 2008 10:08 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I voted Anderson

better k/bb numbers, left handed, more highly thought of coming into the season, though like the guy above I can see why someone would vote Cahill

I’d like to see how multiple people voted simmons though.

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by iamawesomer on Nov 25, 2008 9:22 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Cahill and Anderson are extremely close

Both have great minor league track records on their side, both strike out tons of batters and both keep the ball on the ground. There’s no question they’re 1-2.

I have to give the nod to Anderson. Both pitchers have plus fastballs and plus breaking balls, but Anderson has a third plus pitch (I don’t know much about Cahill’s changeup) and slightly better command at this point.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Nov 25, 2008 9:29 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I saw both of them pitch at the Olympics in Beijing this August...

It’d be a tough call to pick one over the other. Cahill had a rough first couple of innings in his first game but then settled down nicely. He also so apparently suffered a minor injury that he pitched through. But one or two rough innings does not a bad pitcher make, and overall he performed wonderfully, as did Anderson. I voted Cahill but it’s really a tie in my mind…am really looking forward to seeing what progress they both make with their games in the 2009 season.

I was going to buy a copy of The Power of Positive Thinking, and then I thought: "What the hell good would that do?"

by Jackson23 on Nov 25, 2008 7:51 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Anderson for me

But I agree with AEP 2007, iamawesomer, and PaulThomas that Anderson/Cahill are pretty much interchangeable at the top. Not quite sure what kind of crack the 3 people who voted for Gio Gonzalez and James Simmons are smoking . . .

by BlameChannel53 on Nov 25, 2008 9:49 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I'm assuming it's "stirring up the shit"-flavored crack

I doubt anyone seriously believes that to be the case.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Nov 25, 2008 10:16 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Ariel Prieto! he's in the minors still...right?

'That's something we do...thirteen hits and not score'-Terrence Long

by DyeLongJustice on Nov 25, 2008 12:51 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

He... is an employee of the Oakland A's organization in the minor leagues, yes

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Nov 25, 2008 1:25 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Cahill for two reasons

Certainly from what usually goes on at AN I get the sense that they are interchangeable as well, but I voted Cahill for two reasons:

1) Im very confident that heavy sinking pitches will translate to the majors.
2) He is from our system, I want him to be the best, and my vote still counts!

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by ChadGod on Nov 25, 2008 10:32 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

is their a time frame or vote cut off?

by Asfan4ever723 on Nov 25, 2008 10:44 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Inoa!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JK…. it definately comes down to Anderson v. Cahill. If I remember correctly Anderson had a finger injury which caused him to have a couple of bad starts in Stockton but was quickly healed. Looking at Anderson’s numbers under that lens makes them even more impressive for the guy who was probably the true centerpiece of the Haren deal. Cahill’s numbers are very impressive but the slight decline in his control in AA make this tough pick go against him in my book.

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by designatedforassignment on Nov 25, 2008 11:05 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Why vote on #2

I think it would be pointless to vote on the number two position. That spot would have to go to the recipient of the least votes between Cahill and Anderson. Just an opinion, but i don’t see any other prospect coming back and taking away the number two spot. How about we just jump to the #3 ranking after we’ve decided on who is number one?

by AEP2007 on Nov 25, 2008 11:13 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

If there’s a large margin b/w whoever gets 2nd place in a poll, and everyone else, I don’t see the point in voting for the next position (i.e. the #2 spot and the loser b/w Anderson/Cahill).

I know that's a pisser, baby.

by Blicks on Nov 25, 2008 11:44 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Better yet, let's start at #3

Agree that Cahill/Anderson are equal 1st and move on.

by green star oakland on Nov 25, 2008 1:25 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

It's really great that you're doing this.

This is awesome.

I know that's a pisser, baby.

by Blicks on Nov 25, 2008 11:44 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I guess James Simmons' parents voted?

I went with Cahill because he dominated the minors all year long, while Anderson started out bad and then started dominating. Anderson’s walk rate is way better, but Cahill’s GB % is awesome. And they’re both only 20 years old! I am pretty happy to have both.

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by Philip Christy on Nov 25, 2008 12:21 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Anderson actually started well

He was very good pretty much from the start, he just hit a rough patch of about 3-4 starts where he was really bad. I believe during these starts he was pitching with an injury to one of the fingers on his throwing had which affected his ability to command his pitches. I think the rest of the year showed that these starts were just an abberation from Anderson and not a true indication of any problem.

by DiegoAsFan on Nov 25, 2008 12:34 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Henry Rodriguez as a "tester" would be nice.

BA ranked him #9 in the California League ahead of Carter and Doolittle. So I’m not alone in my belief in him.

It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver

by WaddellCanseco on Nov 25, 2008 1:31 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I just think it's awesome the A's top 10 list could conceivably have a Henry Rodriguez off it

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by iamawesomer on Nov 25, 2008 1:45 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

And Arnold Leon. And Michel Inoa. And Jemile Weeks. And Rashun Dixon.

And Craig Italiano. And Corey Brown.

It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver

by WaddellCanseco on Nov 25, 2008 3:32 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Calling it: Cahill #1, Anderson #2

Not supprising, the expected result. Not going to bother with voting for #2 as Anderson is way ahead of everyone else. So #3 coming up soon.

facepalm.jpg

by Zonis on Nov 25, 2008 2:08 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

#3 this is where the dram a starts

you could go with the flawed power hitter carter
the high rising doolittle who had a tough AA stint but looked very good in AFL
cardenas a midseason BA top 30, but hasnt shown no power
mazzaro your breakout AA milb pitcher of the yr, but who’s upside may be a joe blanton type (same for simmons)
the injured weeks who callis actually likes better than carter
mr wildcard inoa who’s never pitched in the us but upside maybe better than all of them
gio who this time last yr was a top 30 type prospect due to his mlb stint his status has taken a hit (sickles comm list in the 70’s)

by Asfan4ever723 on Nov 25, 2008 2:24 PM PST reply actions 0 recs