Minor League

Wow, it seems like minor league prospects seem to be my only topic lately, right? Well, this will probably be my last post about minor league baseball until next year, because with Football season coming, baseball seems to slip away, but baseball shouldn’t take it personally, because by the time the Pro Bowl comes, we are dying for spring training, and who ever watches the Pro Bowl anyways? Anyways, in this post I will rate teams with the best areas of baseball, such as speed, power, contact, fielding, pitching, etc in their minor league systems.
---------------------------------------------------------
Speed: Rangers: When you have young vets like Ian Kinsler that are fast, it complements your following hitters, who certainly have power. Elvis Andrus stole 3 bases vs. the Red Sox a few days ago, and fellow youngster Julio Borbon also shows explosive tools to become a great player who stole 4 in that game. People seem to think that speed only serves a purpose stealing bases, but it shows how small ball can be the difference in a game. The power of smart base running is under estimated in a game. If your leadoff man gets a single, then usually, he could steal a base. But, if the leadoff man doesn’t steal a base, then he can move on a sacrifice fly, or he can go from first to third on an easily hit base hit. Not only can they have smart base running, but to get on base in the first place, they can bunt. Using these simple tools, it can be easy to manufacture runs. When the speedster is in the field, prominently the outfield or middle infield, they can run and get long fly balls that would be a challenge to most players.
---------------------------------------------------------
Contact: Braves: I think, by far, the Braves have had the best minor league system for the best 30 years. When you develop guys like Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Kevin Millwood, Chipper Jones, and Andruw Jones, you know how to succeed down in the farm leagues, and develop quality players. Saying that, why not predict a bold future for Braves prospects. Why not predict 5 gold gloves from Jason Heyward, and 300 homers? Why not predict Tommy Hanson to win 250 games? Maddux has 350+. Talk about a first ballot hall of famer. Getting back to the contact, the Braves have developed sure hall of famer Chipper Jones, who I think is one of the most under-rated players of all time. Jones has 2,382 career hits, almost 500 career doubles, and shows extreme versatility. Andruw Jones had a stretch in his career from 1998 to 2006 in which he never hit less than 150 hits. Jones also shows power and fielding abilities. As I already mentioned, down in the minor league systems, is a young prospect (18 to be exact) that is already being compared to John Mayberry. His name is Jason Heyward, and is raising eyebrows around the Braves, and other team’s minor league systems. The point of this is that the Braves develop all around great players, with contact, speed, fielding, pitching, and power abilities, but contact hitting is their strongest point.
---------------------------------------------------------
Power: Rangers: Interesting how a team can be dominated by Speed and Power, which I think is viewed as the two opposite aspects of baseball. Guys like Hank Blalock, Ian Kinsler, and Nelson Cruz provide raw power in the middle of the Rangers lineup. Earlier this season, Chris Davis, the first-basemen was sent down to the Rangers AAA affiliate. Davis was known for his power, but also struck out a lot. If the Rangers can correct their power hitters, and eliminate some strikeouts, then the Rangers will be extremely good some day The Rangers show four areas of importance in the near future, they are; starting pitching, speed, power, and an excellent bullpen.
---------------------------------------------------------
Pitching: Giants: Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain's don't just grow on trees. Two of the best pitchers in the game, both below the age of 25. The Giants have two of the best pitching prospects down in the minors, in southpaw Madison Bumgarner, and rhp Tim Alderson. What goes better with prospects than a former Cy-Young award veteran in Barry Zito Fellow lefty himself Madison Bumgarner. Things look extremely good in the future for the Giants.
----------------------------------------------------------
Fielding: Pirates: Ok this is clearly the hardest part to come up with a team. The Team I think has the best young fielding and or minor league fielding is the Pittsburg Pirates. Teams like the Pirates that are young and trying to "rebuild" cough Nats cough cough, have a fielding percentage 11 points lower than the Bucs. I have to say, for a team that can't hit, steal bases, or manage; the Pirates have exceeded their expectations.

Top 10 Overall Minor League Systems

1. Braves
2. Rangers
3. Giants
4. Orioles
5. Royals
6. Brewers
7. Rays
8. Marlins
9. White Sox
10.Cardinals