Considering how many Toronto prospects Sickels expects to be All-Stars down the road, he must hold the farm system in high regard. Top five?

league over bush?

certainly top 5.

Bush might be closer to the majors but I'm under the impression that most believe League's ceiling is higher.

I would be scared of any pitcher that has done better than David Bush has thus far.

The Jays netted 2 future Sickels all-stars, plus 3 pitchers were mentioned as worth watching. I'm thinking the Jays system must look much better now than it did before Rios, Gross and Quiroz broke out. Doing well in AA is a good sign.

Bush might be closer to the majors but I'm under the impression that most believe League's ceiling is higher.

i know League is only a spring chicken, but i'd like to see a few more k's.

i know League is only a spring chicken, but i'd like to see a few more k's.

He's been amazing against the HR ball though...only 2 allowed in 86 innings last season and 1 in 90 innings this year. This suggests to me that he's been pretty dominant, just not the dominant that results in strikeouts, at least not yet.

As you said, he IS only 20. He's likely still growing. More strikeouts to come?

Speaking of 2008, is it possible that all of Toronto's sports teams will be combined under the same administration by then? Interesting article.

there could be a strong Toronto representation on the All-Star roster, trying to earn themselves home field advantage in that year's World Series

I'd be surprised if homefield advantage is tied to the All Star game after 2004 let alone in 2008.

I predict a slight improvement in ratings over last year (less than 10%) and next year I think they'll be below what they were last year. The players will point to that and scrap the idea.

I'm mixed on the format. I don't like the calendar deciding who gets home field so it's an improvement for me, but still not ideal.

I'm mixed on the format. I don't like the calendar deciding who gets home field so it's an improvement for me, but still not ideal.

totally agree... i think that before people rip the new format they should consider the fairness of the alternating year system.

BTW, tam to syracuse, davis outrighted, phelps 15 day DL.

wasdin, thurman and reichert to the big club. source: rotoworld.

http://www.prospectreport.com/teams/tor.shtm
Yep, the Jays system is better thought of now than it was. (click name)

Reed and Sickels both make some perplexing omissions.

Reed's top 10 Toronto prospects (not including 2003 drafts) are

1. Quiroz
2. McGowan
3. Rios
4. Arnold
5. Gross
6. Adams
7. Bush
8. Werth
9. Griffin
10. Perkins

I wonder if Werth and Griffin deserve to be ranked so highly.

Reed lists Kevin Cash, Francisco Rosario, Brandon League, Vinny Chulk, Dominic Rich, Jimmy Alvarez, Ty Godwin, Gustavo Chacin, Mike Snyder, and Justin Maureau as honourable mentions.

I'd take Simon Pond, Corey Thurman, Sandy Nin, or Chad Pleiness in a heartbeat over Chulk, Alvarez, Godwin, Chacin, or Snyder. Even if you throw out Pond on account of age and Thurman on account of major league experience, there's no accounting for the absence of Nin and Pleiness.

Sickels, as has already been pointed out, mentions Arnold, League, and McGowan on his list of "Potential 2008 All-Stars", but omits David "Shock and Awe" Bush. I would probably choose Bush over any of the others right now. Sickels also names Gross but not Rios, which seems curious.

To me, Sickels' article seems like it was written in a bit of a hurry.

We should have a BB Top 10 Jays Prospects poll; it would be interesting to see the results.

Reed's list looks fine to me. I only take Werth out and bring in League.