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There've been lots of newsworthy events in the minors this season - chief among them being TJ surgery for "former" top pitching prospect Dustin McGowan.

Let's see who the BB readership and authorship think are the best prospects at this moment in time. Points will be awarded for each ballot on the following basis: 25-22-20-18-16 and decreasing by one to 20th place (1 point).

My list is as follows: 1) Quiroz, 2) Rios, 3) Bush, 4) Hill, 5) Rosario, 6) Banks, 7) Gross, 8) Peterson, 9) Adams, 10) McGowan, 11) Marcum, 12) Ryan Roberts, 13) Vito, 14) League, 15) Rich, 16) Mastney, 17) Justin James, 18) Felix Romero, 19)Tingler, 20) J-F Griffin
May Prospect Poll: Rank the Top 20 Jays Prospects | 57 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
_Dean - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 02:49 PM EDT (#63914) #
1. McGowan 11. Rich
2. Rios 12. Godwin
3. Quiroz 13. James
4. League 14. Snavely
5. Rosario 15. Marcum
6. Banks 16. Chacin
7. Hill 17. Vito
8. Peterson 18. Arnold
9. Gross 19. Diaz
10. Adams 20. Vermilyea
Mike Green - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 02:54 PM EDT (#63915) #
1. Rios
2. Quiroz
3. Hill
4. Bush
5. Banks
6. Gross
7. Rosario
8. Peterson
9. League
10. McGowan
11. Marcum
12. Adams
13. Davis Romero
14. Chacin
15. Justin James
16. Roberts
17. Mastny
18. Tingler
19. Vito
20. Rich

Just a word on my pitching choices. I really like Banks' chances, but I don't feel comfortable rating him higher than fifth, as he has had only six weeks in the FSL.
_Kristian - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 02:59 PM EDT (#63916) #
1. Rios, 2. Rosario, 3. Quiroz, 4. Banks, 5. Hill, 6. Bush, 7. Peterson, 8. Gross, 9. McGowan, 10. Adams, 11. League, 12. Mastney, 13. Marcum, 14. Roberts, 15. Rich, 16. Vito, 17. Vermilyea, 18. Tingler, 19. Ford Griffin, 20. Arnold.
_Sneeps - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 03:04 PM EDT (#63917) #
1. Rios 2. Quiroz 3. Rosario 4. McGowan 5. Banks 6. Hill 7. Bush 8. Gross 9. League 10. Peterson 11. Adams 12. JFG 13. Marcum 14. Rich 15. Vermilyea 16. Arnold 17. James 18. Mastny 19. Roberts 20. Snavely
_goatboy - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 03:05 PM EDT (#63918) #
I think Ryan Houston merits consideration, and not solely on what he did last night
_johnnnyS99 - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 03:21 PM EDT (#63919) #
How do we know about Felix Romero's stuff? I Cant seem to find any scouting reports on him.
_Ducey - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 03:44 PM EDT (#63920) #
1. Rosario
2. Hill
3. Rios
4. GQ
5. Banks
6. Bush
7. Gross
8. McGowan
9. League
10. Peterson
11. Adams
12. Roberts
13. James
14. Marcum
15. Mastny
16. Vito
17. Tingler
18. Negron
19. Bubbie
20. Houston
_Tassle - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 03:45 PM EDT (#63921) #
Rios
Rosario
Quiroz
Bush
Hill
Banks
Gross
Marcum
Vito
Peterson
Rich
Roberts
Adams
League
McGowan
Mastney
James
Griffin
Tingler
Romero

I really like Marcum, and can't wait to see what he will do in Dunedin. I like Banks over Bush celing-wise, but Bush has proven himself 2 levels higher than Banks, so he gets the nod. I believe that Rosario is going to be in the rotation this time next year, and has the stuff to excel when he gets there. Arnold has fallen off the map, he's almost turned into a non prospect. I don't think he has the stuff for the big leagues, which is too bad.
_greenfrog - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 04:05 PM EDT (#63922) #
1 Quiroz
2 Rios
3 Banks
4 Hill
5 Adams
6 McGowan
7 Rosario
8 Gross
9 Peterson
10 Bush
11 Harper
12 League
13 Rich
14 Marcum
15 James
16 Chacin
17 Frederick
18 Roberts, Ryan
19 Griffin
20 Romero
_goatboy - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 04:08 PM EDT (#63923) #
Re: Arnold has fallen off the map, he's almost turned into a non prospect

Tassle, I agree for the most part with you about Arnold. This was a guy that JP called a stud pitcher when he traded for him. Arnold then when out a absolutely dominated at AA before he was promoted to Syracuse, and ever since he's been a different guy. I hear rumors though that his velocity is way down, which makes me wonder if there is not something wrong with his arm.
_Sneeps - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 04:12 PM EDT (#63924) #
I think it's time to put Arnold in the pen. That way he can just turn the ball loose for a couple of innings at a time, rather than conserving his energy for long outings.
robertdudek - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 04:14 PM EDT (#63925) #
There's two pitchers names Romero - make sure you indicate which one you've chosen.
Thomas - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 04:29 PM EDT (#63926) #
1. Rios
2. Rosario
3. Quiroz
4. Banks
5. McGowan
6. Hill
7. Bush
8. Gross
9. Adams
10. Marcum
11. Peterson
12. League
13. Ryan Roberts
14. Mastny
15. James
16. Vito
17. Rich
18. Vermilyea
19. Snavely
20. J-F Griffin
_goatboy - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 04:50 PM EDT (#63927) #
Sneeps that's where Arnold played in college, intill his final year when he went into the starting rotation. However since Arnold has struggled since his promotion to AAA more and more people are agreeing with what you said, that Arnold if he is to make it to the major leagues it will be in the bull pen.
_johnnnyS99 - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 04:54 PM EDT (#63928) #
Bullpen might crowded next year. Nakumura, Peterson, Chulk, File, Ryan Houston, Jason Arnold, could all be options.
_Hayden - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 04:58 PM EDT (#63929) #
Any chance Peterson could be closing next season in Toronto?
_goatboy - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 04:59 PM EDT (#63930) #
greenfrog, Harper ahead of League, that's an interesting choice, though I don't agree with it.
_goatboy - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 05:04 PM EDT (#63931) #
Hayden, think that's a very real possiblity I think Peterson probably will be promoted to Syracuse in early June and as long as he does not struggle I think you should see him Toronto come September.
_Irv - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 05:09 PM EDT (#63932) #
1. Rios 2. Quiroz 3. Bush 4. Hill 5. Adams 6. Rosario 7. Banks 8. Peterson 9. League 10. McGowan 11. Godwin 12. Gross 13. Arnold 14. Rich 15. Vito 16. James 17. J F Griffin 18. Negron 19. Romero 20. Snavely
_goatboy - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 05:45 PM EDT (#63933) #
Guys am I missing something here! I've looked up and down your lists and I see no Tyrell Godwin.
_Four Seamer - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 05:52 PM EDT (#63934) #
He's on Irv and Dean's lists. And he'd be on mine, if I took the time to put one together.
_goatboy - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 05:58 PM EDT (#63935) #
Four Seamer I've been sitting to long in front of the computer, time to go excerise the mind
_Thorn - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 06:00 PM EDT (#63936) #
I like some of your choices but fail to see some of the logic with the placement with some of your choices. I do not watch enough of these guys to feel like I could make a good list, but I do feel like you are forgetting Harper on most of your list. Is there a reason that he is left off completely, or did most of you guys forget about him because he is just now throwing again? I know that I sound like a homer, but he has led all pitchers at the last two levels that he has played at in wins and ERA. I would have a hard time placing some of those pitchers on a list above a guy that was a MVP last year and is currently on the 40 man. I know that Banks is doing good in Dunedin, but I would not say that he is playing at a higher level than Harper was last year while he was in Dunedin. I would also like to throw out Godwins name. Myabe not as high profile as some of the others, but certainly getting the job done very well.Oh well it is all in fun and I am sure glad the Jays don't use us as talent evaulators.
_Sneeps - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 06:04 PM EDT (#63937) #
I forgot Harper.
_Ryan01 - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 06:08 PM EDT (#63938) #
Hmm... alright.

1. Rios 2. Quiroz 3. Hill 4. Rosario 5.Banks 6. Bush 7. McGowan 8. Gross 9. Adams 10. Peterson 11. League 12. Harper 13. Vito 14. James 15. Mastny 16. Arnold 17. Marcum 18. Tingler 19. Negron 20. D. Romero
Mike Green - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 06:08 PM EDT (#63939) #
I forgot Harper and Vermilyea. I'm not that high on Godwin.
_Ryan01 - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 06:19 PM EDT (#63940) #
Awww... I forgot Vermilyea too. And I'm not sure why I put Gross that low.
_Irv - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 06:43 PM EDT (#63941) #
I like Godwin (T God) but I don't think he has much of a future in the Jays organization since we don't value his speed as much as other teams.
Craig B - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 06:58 PM EDT (#63942) #
I like Godwin (T God) but I don't think he has much of a future in the Jays organization since we don't value his speed as much as other teams.

I don't think that's necessarily true. The Jays value speed (one of the big reasons the team gave Reed Johnson a chance was that they really like his speed on offense and defense). They don't value the stolen base quite so much... but there's more, much more, to speed than stealing bases.
Pistol - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 07:02 PM EDT (#63943) #
1. Rios
2. Quiroz
3. Bush
4. Gross
5. Rosario
6. McGowan
7. Adams
8. Hill
9. Banks
10. Peterson
11. League
12. Vito!
13. Negron
14. Vermilyea
15. Isenberg
16. Roberts
17. Marcum
18. Mastny
19. James
20. Sequea
_goatboy - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 07:12 PM EDT (#63944) #
Godwin playing very well right now, he's hitting something like .340 for the last two weeks and really being a offensive catalyst.
Craig B - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 07:13 PM EDT (#63945) #
1. Quiroz
2. Rios
3. Gross
4. Bush
5. Banks
6. Hill
7. Adams
8. Peterson
9. Rosario
10. McGowan
11. Vermilyea
12. Arnold
13. Roberts
14. Rich
15. Mastny
16. Marcum
17. Chiaravalloti aka Vito!
18. League
19. Robinson Diaz
20. Godwin

This is a deep system. Ranking 12-30 is really impossible for me.
Craig B - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 07:20 PM EDT (#63946) #
Just to underscore that, "also receiving votes" for me are Perkins, Griffin, Edward Rodriguez, Snavely, Negron, Isenberg, Harper (who really should be on my list), Justin James, Davis Romero, Galloway, Reiman, and Wolfe.

And my two very special sleepers... Maikel Jova and Matt Foster.
_Sneeps - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 07:29 PM EDT (#63947) #
Wow, I forgot Perkins, Negron and Isenberg as well.

Our system is just so deep, it's hard to remember everyone!
_goatboy - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 07:39 PM EDT (#63948) #
Did Matt Foster get out of his naval commitment?
_JohnnyS99 - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 07:40 PM EDT (#63949) #
I cant believe, how many peopel forgot about Perkins as he cleary is a better prospect then others on pepoles lists ie; both romeros. Snavely, Arnold, Mastny. Baseball AMerica had him on the top 10, and hes been injured most of the year.
_Sneeps - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 07:57 PM EDT (#63950) #
I think people forget about guys like Harper and Perkins because of their injuries this year.

Also, having Perkins go to the bullpen didn't do much to raise his value as a prospect.
_Thorn - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 07:59 PM EDT (#63951) #
2-0 after two . Dunedin on top. Harper throwing well and has only allowed an infield tapper between third and the mound.The announcer for Fort Myers said that Harper is only going to throw 60-65 pitches tonight. Guess they are being really careful with him.
_Ryan01 - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 08:03 PM EDT (#63952) #
They don't value the stolen base quite so much

Well, I'm sure they love the stolen base. It's the caught stealing that they're not so fond of ;)

I don't think Perkins is clearly better though he certainly deserves consideration. Sure he dominated low A but he's struggled for nearly a year now at high A and an injury is hardly a case for him maintaining his high status.
_Thorn - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 08:18 PM EDT (#63953) #
Dunedin up 2-0 after three innings. The announcer can't quit praising Harper(it is really funny). Says his team can only hope that Harper leaves the game soon. He says that he is painting the black with all the pitches and looks like he is ready to go to AA now.Davenport hit one to the top of the wall but the strong wind kept it from going over.
_Thorn - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 08:31 PM EDT (#63954) #
2-0 after four, Dunedin still on top.
_Geoff - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 08:41 PM EDT (#63955) #
1. Quiroz
2. Bush
3. Rios
4. Banks
5. Rosario
6. Hill
7. Adams
8. Gross
9. Peterson
10. League
11. McGowan
12. Negron
13. Vermilyea
14. Roberts
15. Marcum
16. James
17. Core
18. Mastny
19. Galloway
20. Snavely
_Irv - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 08:43 PM EDT (#63956) #
I don't think that's necessarily true. The Jays value speed (one of the big reasons the team gave Reed Johnson a chance was that they really like his speed on offense and defense). They don't value the stolen base quite so much... but there's more, much more, to speed than stealing bases.

Agreed, Craig B - I could have worded it better. T God is 14/17 for SB's this year (82%), which is an excellent percentage for Moneyball enthusiasts.
_Tassle - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 08:55 PM EDT (#63957) #
I honestly believe that if Carlos Beltran or Scott Podsednik were here stealing bases at an 80-90% clip, Carlos (Or J.P.) would let them steal 40. I'm just not sure we have an elite basestealer on this team.
_Thorn - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 08:55 PM EDT (#63958) #
4-0 after five innings in favor of Dunedin. Harper with four strikeouts and two hits so far.
_Thorn - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 09:12 PM EDT (#63959) #
Harper is done after five. He leaves with a 9-0 lead and gives way to Pleiness. I believe that Harper is definitely OK after tonights showing. That gives him 8 scoreless innings with 8 K's thus far. He probably still needs a few more starts to stretch him out a little further.
_Jim - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 09:20 PM EDT (#63960) #
I started to think about what systems I would trade with if I were the Jays.
No-brainers off the top of my head:
Los Angeles
Anaheim
Tampa Bay
Milwaukee
(I'm sure some disagree with that, and if I think long and hard I might be able to come up with a few more).

As for my list:
1. Rios
2. Quiroz
3. Hill
4. Banks
5. Bush
6. McGowan (2nd pre-TJ)
7. League
8. Rosario
9. Adams
10. Peterson
11. Marcum
12. Gross
13. Vito
14. Vermilyea
15. Tingler
16. Mastney
17. Negron
18. Snavely
19. JFG
20. Perkins
_Scott Carson - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 09:34 PM EDT (#63961) #
1. Rios
2. Bush
3. Quiroz
4. Banks
5. McGowan (fingers crossed)
6. Peterson
7. Gross
8. Adams
9. Medina
10. Hill
11. Chiaravolloti
12. Sequea
13. Harper
14. League
15. Godwin
16. Negron
17. Griffin
18. Hanson
19. Perkins
20. Rosario

With McGowan out until further notice, Bush and Banks are the pitchers I most want to see. J.P. raves about Peterson. One to keep an eye on is Negron, who seems to be a late bloomer like Rios. Hopefully Hill can make the transition to 3rd so Hinske can be put out to pasture.
_Sneeps - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 10:19 PM EDT (#63962) #
Here's my updated list (includes the guys i forgot about):

1. Rios
2. Quiroz
3. Rosario
4. McGowan
5. Banks
6. Hill
7. Bush
8. Gross
9. League
10. Peterson
11. Adams
12. Perkins
13. JFG
14. Harper
15. Marcum
16. Rich
17. Vermilyea
18. James
19. Mastny
20. Snavely
_johnnnyS99 - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 11:09 PM EDT (#63963) #
Wasnt Perkins in the pen this year cause of an injury and they were taking it slow? I can recall, someone in da box saying jP said it was due to a rib injury.
Gerry - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 11:36 PM EDT (#63964) #
Perkins was a back injury. He has been on the DL for a few weeks now.
Craig B - Thursday, May 20 2004 @ 11:51 PM EDT (#63965) #
Thanks for your insight, Scott. Always nice to see what the working press are thinking! I noticed you had Medina up very high. Any particular reason?
_John S. - Friday, May 21 2004 @ 05:17 AM EDT (#63966) #
Here's my list

1. Rios
2. Quiroz
3. Bush
4. Banks
5. McGowan
6. Gross
7. Hill
8. Rosario
9. Peterson
10. League
11. Marcum
12. Adams
13. Negron
14. Mastny
15. Vito C.
16. Jesse Harper
17. Vermilyea
18. Diaz (ZZ top)
19. James
20. Roberts
Gerry - Friday, May 21 2004 @ 11:09 AM EDT (#63967) #
Rios
Quiroz
Gross
Bush
Hill
McGowan
Banks
Adams
Rosario
Peterson

League
Harper
Reimers
Hanson
Mastny
Marcum
Roberts
Vito
Arnold
Rich
Dave Till - Friday, May 21 2004 @ 01:49 PM EDT (#63968) #
I'm now beginning to think that the mountain is harder to climb than we previously thought. Many of the prospects that were kicking butt in AA last year are struggling at the new level this year. This leads me to believe that the Jays don't have as many killer prospects as I once thought. :-(

With this in mind, my list rates most AA players lower than most AAA players, and so on.

Quiroz
Adams
Rios
Gross
Bush
Hill
McGowan
Peterson
Banks
Rosario
Rich

I rate Adams higher than Rios right now because (a) their numbers are similar, (b) Adams has better plate discipline, (c) Adams is an infielder. Rios is the wild card on the list, though: he has a much higher ceiling than anyone else except perhaps McGowan (surgery pending) and maybe Banks or Rosario. Adams isn't going to become a superstar; Rios could, if absolutely everything breaks right.

I don't think that anybody not on the above list has much of a chance (disclaimer: I am a lousy scout), but here's the next few on my list:

Arnold
Houston
League
Vito
Perkins
Griffin
Godwin
Chacin

I guess this is only 19 names, so the 20th will be:

Some young pitcher who is about to make a breakthrough :-)
_NDG - Saturday, May 22 2004 @ 12:31 PM EDT (#63969) #
1. Rios
2. Bush
3. Quiroz
4. Gross
5. Rosario
6. McGowan
7. Adams
8. Hill
9. Banks
10. Peterson
11. Rich
12. Vito!
13. Roberts
14. Mastny
15. Harper
16. Godwin
17. Marcum
18. Arnold
19. James
20. Frederick

I've left both League and Perkins out cause it's my feeling that guys with great stuff but lacking control contribute next to nothing in their pre-arb years.
Coach - Saturday, May 22 2004 @ 02:40 PM EDT (#63970) #
Late to the party, but here goes:

Rios
Quiroz
Bush
Gross
Adams
Hill
Rosario
Banks
McGowan
Peterson
League
Marcum
Roberts
Chiaravalotti
Vermilyea
Mastny
Harper
Rich
Arnold
Griffin

It's almost impossible to split hairs; I left a bunch of deserving guys off, and kind of grouped people (Peterson/League/Marcum) who I think are similar. It wouldn't surprise me at all if Snavely, James, Tingler, and/or any one of a dozen others cracked my top 20 the next time we do this.

Arnold and Griffin have definitely slipped, and while that trade was still worth making, it's looking less like a "win" for anyone but Oakland. Even Durazo, the best player involved, has been somewhat less than the Holy Grail. If Jason and John-Ford don't make it, that's mildly disappointing, but it's also evidence of how much deeper the system is than it was two years ago.
May Prospect Poll: Rank the Top 20 Jays Prospects | 57 comments | Create New Account
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