The Farm System

[Eddiey]

Keith Law of ESPN has ranked what in his mind are the best farm systems.
He ranks the Devil Rays as number 1. His comments are that the Rays are packed with high ceiling bats and pitching depth. He did say however that most of the pitching depth was in A-ball in 2006. In other words it might be awhile before we see that pitching in the majors.

[SoxSon]

Keith Law of ESPN has ranked what in his mind are the best farm systems.
He ranks the Devil Rays as number 1. His comments are that the Rays are packed with high ceiling bats and pitching depth. He did say however that most of the pitching depth was in A-ball in 2006. In other words it might be awhile before we see that pitching in the majors.


If Tampa Bay can hold on to some of their young talent (and resist the temptation to trade for some soon-to-be-washed-up pitchers), they have a bright future, IMO. Still a few years off, but things are looking up.

[raysnbran]

This area could be a great baseball market with just some effort from ownership. I know the rest of baseball views Tampa Bay as a vast wasteland, and that the franchise should be contracted or moved somewhere else where it would be better appreciated. Besides bad ownership from the beginning, the majority of the fanbase here moved from somewhere else that had a team they grew up with and still root for. The only way to convince these fans to root for the home team is to win, or at least show that you are trying to win. It worked for the Bucs and the Lightning and they won championships. Until the DRO grasps the same concepts, the fans won't turn out.

What's the % that half of these great farm system prospects turn into productive ML players? Maybe 10%? We've had a surplus of OF's all winter, and we desperately need pitching, yet current ownership won't make a deal. In fact, our payroll will be the lowest in baseball at around $24 million. Only 3 players will make more than a million. That's pathetic in today's baseball. Why should fans come out to support minor league baseball?

<rant off>

[Eddiey]

This area could be a great baseball market with just some effort from ownership. I know the rest of baseball views Tampa Bay as a vast wasteland, and that the franchise should be contracted or moved somewhere else where it would be better appreciated. Besides bad ownership from the beginning, the majority of the fanbase here moved from somewhere else that had a team they grew up with and still root for. The only way to convince these fans to root for the home team is to win, or at least show that you are trying to win. It worked for the Bucs and the Lightning and they won championships. Until the DRO grasps the same concepts, the fans won't turn out.

What's the % that half of these great farm system prospects turn into productive ML players? Maybe 10%? We've had a surplus of OF's all winter, and we desperately need pitching, yet current ownership won't make a deal. In fact, our payroll will be the lowest in baseball at around $24 million. Only 3 players will make more than a million. That's pathetic in today's baseball. Why should fans come out to support minor league baseball?

<rant off>

I'm obviously guessing because I can't read ownerships mind. That said I wonder if they are willing to trade for pitching but are waiting till some other team or teams get a bit more desperate. I would think teams will wait till spring training to find out what they really have in the way of useable talent. If a team determines that they need another player to be competitive they might come knocking on the Rays door. As I said, I'm guessing but it does make sense.
I feel like you do that the payroll definitely must go higher. But if I look at the free agent signings this past winter the money paid for run of the mill pitchers was insane. Alot of teams are going to regret the contracts they handed out.