Life On The Farm: Detroit Tigers (# 28)

3 Aces = Title? Hope so, b/c we sure don't have enough for Round 2.

Graduated To Majors: Wilkin Ramirez (OF, # 6), Clete Thomas (OF, # 21), Brent Dlugach (SS, UR), Jeff Larish (3B, # 5), Dusty Ryan (C, # 9), Alex Avila (C, # 20), Rick Porcello (SP, # 1), Ryan Perry (RP, # 2), Casey Fien (RP, # 11), Freddy Dolsi (RP, # 15), Alfredo Figaro (RP, # 16), Chris Lambert (SP, UR now member of Orioles), Eddie Bonine (SP, UR), Luke French (SP, UR now member of Mariners), Clay Rapada (RP, UR)

The Rest Of The Top 10 (with quick commentary)
Hitters: BA-OBP-SLG, AB, HR-RBI, BB-K, SB-CS
Pitchers: G-GS, W-L, ERA, IP-H-HR-BB-K

3 - Cale Iorg: SS
AA: .224-.275-.337, 492, 11-41, 32-149, 13-7
Quick Take: Hugely disappointing season, with huge strikeout totals and just an overall raw game that hasn't yet taken shape yet.

4 - Casey Crosby: SP
Lo A: 24-24, 10-4, 2.41, 104.2-70-3-48-117
Quick Take: The lefty took a big first step with a strong exposure to full season ball. Walk totals are a touch high, but strikeout and hit numbers offset them.

7 - Scott Sizemore: 2B
AA: .307-.402-.535, 228, 9-33, 35-45, 7-3
AAA: .308-.378-.473, 292, 8-33, 29-49, 14-1
Quick Take: Another Tiger who took a big step forward and should be major league ready at some point next season, maybe in April.

8 - Cody Satterwhite: RP
AA: 34-0, 4-6, 3.47, 49.1-46-5-27-52
Quick Take: Solid AA debut, looks to try and be ready for a midseason promotion next season to help the bullpen.

10 - Brett Jacobson: SP
Hi A: 42-0, 2-5, 4.13, 65.1-58-7-26-55
Quick Take: Dealt to the Orioles in the Aubrey Huff deal, the only player dealt from the Tigers looks to do better then his initial debut in their system (1-2, 6.30)

AAA: Toledo Mud Hens (IL)
Breakout Hitter: Don Kelly (UR): .331-.404-.465, 372, 6-40, 43-51, 27-4
Disappointing Hitter: Will Rhymes (# 30): .260-.324-.354, 404, 3-41, 36-58, 20-7
Breakout Pitcher: Luke French (UR): 13-13, 4-4, 2.98, 81.2-71-6-20-72
Disappointing Pitcher: Brooks Brown (# 28 for ARI): 20-18, 3-13, 4.71, 112.2-120-9-55-48
Quick Take: Kelly and French parlayed themselves into big league debuts. Rhymes didn't do anything to warrant inclusion in next year's Top 30. Brown fell flat on his face and lost all semblance of K numbers in AAA.

AA: Eric Seawolves (EL)
Breakout Hitter: Scott Sizemore (# 7): Line above.
Disappointing Hitter: Cale Iorg (# 3): Line above.
Breakout Pitcher: Zach Simons (# 28): 31-0, 1-2, 2.82, 51-39-1-21-50
Disappointing Pitcher: Jonah Nickerson (UR): 28-27, 8-12, 5.33, 165.1-217-23-44-75
Quick Take: Sizemore and Simons merited 2nd half promotions to AAA and Simons may already be more valuable then Jason Grilli. Iorg really struggled while Nickerson showed an ability to eat innings. Not well, but can eat them.

Hi A: Lakeland Flying Tigers (FSL)
Breakout Hitter: Michael Bertram (UL): .281-.327-.469, 292, 10-47, 20-54, 3-0
Disappointing Hitter: Justin Henry (UR): .256-.330-.308, 425, 0-43, 45-40, 22-7
Breakout Pitcher: Robbie Weinhardt (# 22): 22-0, 1-1, 0.85, 31.2-24-2-10-40
Disappointing Pitcher: Matt Hoffman (UR): 16-10, 3-7, 6.79, 62.1-79-9-21-32
Quick Take: Bertram and Weinhardt earned 2nd half promotions to AA. Henry showed a slap hitting mentality, but little positive results. Hoffman really struggled to generate swings and misses.

Lo A: West Michigan Whitecaps (ML)
Breakout Hitter: Brandon Douglas (# 23): .322-.384-.374, 329, 0-35, 29-33, 9-1
Disappointing Hitter: Brent Wyatt (UR): .242-.360-.335, 475, 3-53, 67-71, 23-9
Breakout Pitcher: Casey Crosby (# 4): Line above.
Disappointing Pitcher: Brandon Hamilton (# 26): 30-20, 5-5, 7.09, 99-112-11-61-71
Quick Take: Douglas may have surpassed both Danny Worth and Cale Iorg as the SS of the future while Crosby may be a Top 50 prospect period. Wyatt showed plate discipline, but not enough power to warrant pitchers to being scared of throwing him strikes. Hamilton struggled badly in his first exposure to full season ball.

TK's Early 2010 Top 10 Prospects:
1) Casey Crosby: LHP
Can he join Porcello in Detroit next season? Probably not, but he has the makings of a top of the rotation pitcher.
2) Jacob Turner: RHP
Top high school arm is said to be a small step down from Josh Beckett and Porcello.
3) Andrew Oliver: LHP
2nd round pick was the 21st best prospect according to BA and has a fastball at 92-94.
4) Scott Sizemore: 2B
Shows himself as a potential middle or top of the order bat at a middle position.
5) Casper Wells: CF
5 tool player is showing signs of putting it all together.
6) Cody Satterwhite: RHP
Strong relief prospect is nearly major league ready.
7) Ryan Strieby: 1B
Cabrera blocks him, but bat (.303-.427-.565, 19 HR's at AA) appears close to major league ready.
8) Zach Simons: RHP
Another relief prospect nearly ready.
9) Cale Iorg: SS
Tools still there, but production needs to take a big step up.
10) Brandon Douglas: SS
Like to see more power, but showing himself as a complete shortstop.

Dropped From Top 10: None

Final Overview: The Tigers are not a team in transition... yet. With most of their prospects in the upper levels, they may not be able to withstand another mass exodus to the majors. David Chadd's going over slot is noticeable both for its strong players they get early (Maybin, A. Miller, Porcello, Verlander) and the resulting lack of money to build system depth. Tigers tend to hit on their 1st round picks, will Turner continue that? Probably not the 2nd worst farm system, but not quite middle of the pack yet.