Nico Vasquez. I like everything I know about him and rate his potential ahead of Kozma and Greene.

I am sure you are “write”, but I think this is “rong”: right-in candidates. ;>)

How far should we drop Garcia? If he was healthy he is definitely top 10 material, but being able to stay healthy is a legitimate consideration.

No, I meant what I wrote. Nice of some one to notice, though.

Wow, tough choices to make on this particular poll…

I like Boggs, I think he is a smart pitcher, and a definite upgrade over Pineiro as a 5th starter. I know he got knocked around a bit in a few of his starts in his brief time with the Cards, but he is a Dave Duncan type pitcher, and again I think he can provide the Cardinals a better shot at winning when he starts than Pineiro could. But, I had to go with Garcia as a my #9 prospect.

If he can stay healthy, and the Cards don’t rush him back from his surgery too soon, then I think Garcia’s value to the Cards as a LH starter could be huge.

DG, this is not a write-in vote, but on these polls where will we begin to see Nico Vasquez? It is exciting to see that potential speed and energy that he could bring if things work out and he makes to the majors as a Cardinal. I’m not suggesting that he is a better prospect than the Candidates to chose from, but isn’t it about time he joins the list of candidates?

Garcia would definitely be in my top 5 if healthy but
considering the severity of his injury he is almost
certainly 2 years away from the big leagues now so I
am dropping him into the bottom half of the poll.
Lynn, Vasquez and Freeman should start to receive some
consideration imho.

What is the state of Garcia’s health right now? The last I heard he was considering surgery for his elbow. If he did have surgery, that would effect his standing IMO. I voted Boggs @ 9. Mortenson could be so much higher but his control is a major issue.

Garcia underwent Tommy John surgery on Sept. 5th, he could potentially come back and be better than ever…that is if the Cards don’t rush him and bring him back too soon.

DG: Write on.

Boggs only has value as a middle reliever– and given the other RHRP on the farm, he drops. I keep Garcia @ 8-9 given how thin LH starters are in the organization. Niko has to get some run as one of the few promising middle infielders. Kozma is from my high school but I just don’t see him hitting enough.

I don’t think you can rank prospects based upon the team’s need.
I feel the best case scenario for Garcia is that he is able to
pitch in one of the Fall leagues next year and then rounds into
shape with a half-season in the minors and is with the big league
club at the All-Star break. Much more likely is that he isn’t able
to contribute until 2011. Based on this I can’t rank him in the top
ten despite his talent.

I think it’s time to start taking a closer look at Nico Vasquez as being amongst our top prospects - albeit still in the low minors.

Isn’t it funny how some prospects will drop when the hype is off??

I do not have Boggs in my top 10. The player talent pool is getting a little deep for him to be in the top 10 and is rising yet…IMO.

My vote is for Scott Gorgen. He will be next year’s Jess Todd. I expect to see him in Springfield by the end of the year. His rookie season was dominant and outstanding.

Garcia has a much higher ceiling than Boggs despite his injury. Boggs is widely seen, at best, as a RHRP of a swingman variety much like Thompson. You won’t see other teams breaking down the door to acquire Boggs. Garcia without the injury and without the organization strengths/weaknesses would be #3 or so….

Shane Robinson should be in the discussion of top 10 prospects. He is another Skip Schumaker with a lot more speed. If you go to Springfield and Memphis games you will understand the comment. He had an incredible year at AA before being promoted to AAA. He was also the NCAA player of the year at Florida State in 2005. He is carrying over his performance to the AFL and has tremendous upside. Robinson is better than Brian Barton and will be better than Skip in a year or two.

Adam Reifer

Nico Vasquez for # 9

Richard Castillo at #9. Dominated the Midwest League this year, despite being its *youngest* starting pitcher. Better than 3-1 K/BB ratio, and an ERA of 2.62 (1.99 over the final month, which was 6 starts and 40 innings). In 2007 he posted a 1.72 ERA in the Venezuelan Summer League, as well. Solid velocity–especially for an 18-year-old–at 88-90, and a heckuva hook.

I’d love to know your firsthand opinion of the kid, Derrick, as you must’ve seen him up close. Thanks!

I did not see Richard Castillo in person. I saw the numbers. I’ve spoken with people who did see him put up some of those numbers. And I’ve read a few scouting reports about him. Lots to like for his age. He already touches 90 regularly and will gain velocity as he gains strength. His curve ball is good enough to be an out pitch. And his control is beyond his age. Good ingredients. But, to me, he has to have more production than promise to be in the top 10. Otherwise the system isn’t as deep in pitchers as the Cardinals say …

DG - When are you declaring the winner and moving on to the next set?

Stldrakelaw,

Good question. I’m waiting on one more element for the next entry so that it can be more than just a poll for No. 11. I also am trying to come up with a better way to do the poll than two at a time. After the top 10, we’re now going to shift into one poll per entry — but only one per day? That could go too slow.

Plans are in the works. But we’ll move until No. 11 once I receive an element of the next entry from a baseball-covering friend …

Thanks for the patience,

dg

dg - Thanks for the update. I think what we need is a group of players to whittle down for the next few picks.

Thanks for the (prompt & thorough) Castillo response, D.G.. An 18-year-old who already has a plus secondary pitch he can control is a very nice asset. At the risk of belaboring the point, I’m wondering if you could clarify what you meant by “…he has to have more production than promise to be in the top 10.”

The young man has made 23 professional starts, averaged just over 6 innings per start, and posted a cumulative ERA of 2.11–all while pitching exclusively against hitters older than himself (often much older). Can’t get more productive than that. Are you saying you need to see Castillo succeed at AA before considering him a plausible elite prospect? Or just more starts, regardless of level? Needing more production than promise seems like a critique that fits guys like Ottovino or Mortensen, who both posted mediocre (or worse) numbers in 2008, rather than Castillo.

Thanks for your time, Derrick!