Life On The Farm: Los Angeles Dodgers (# 23)

Is there more coming from this vaunted system?

Graduated To Majors: Xavier Paul (OF, # 16), Jamie Hoffmann (OF, # 22), A.J. Ellis (C, UR), James McDonald (SP, # 2), Ramon Troncoso (RP, # 12), Travis Schlichting (RP, # 14), Scott Elbert (SP, # 5), Brent Leach (RP, # 21), Victor Garate (RP, # 24, now with Nationals).

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

1 - Andrew Lambo: LF
AA: .256-.311-.407, 492, 11-61, 39-95, 4-3
Quick Take: Disappointing season, but did skip High A this season.

3 - Ethan Martin: SP
Lo A: 27-19, 6-8, 3.87, 100-85-4-61-120
Quick Take: Above average strikeout numbers for the high school draftee who is being pushed aggressively, as this was his pro debut in a full season league.

4 - Josh Lindblom: SP
AA: 14-11, 3-5, 4.71, 57.1-55-4-14-46
AAA: 20-3, 3-0, 2.54, 39-34-3-12-36
Quick Take: Showed he may be ready next season around June as a reliever, a little longer as a starter.

6 - Ivan DeJesus Jr.: SS
R: .200-.308-.300, 10, 0-3, 1-6, 0-0
Quick Take: Broken leg in spring training results in lost season.

7 - Devaris Gordon: SS
Lo A: .301-.362-.394, 538, 3-35, 43-90, 73-25
Quick Take: The above is the reason he was their most sought after player at the trading deadline.

8 - Josh Bell: 3B
AA: .297-.378-.518, 448, 20-76, 61-98, 3-5
Quick Take: Takes his act to the Orioles system. He will hit, the question is whether he is a 3B or not.

9 - Chris Withrow: SP
Hi A: 19-16, 6-6, 4.69, 86.1-80-3-45-105
AA: 6-6, 2-2, 3.95, 27.1-24-2-12-26
Quick Take: Another strikeout guy who had a pretty strong season and actually got his walks under control at AA. Sample size or small mechanical adjustment?

10 - Nate Eovaldi: SP
Lo A: 26-16, 3-5, 3.27, 96.1-95-2-41-71
Quick Take: Solid season for the full-season debut and innings limit taken into consideration.

AAA: Albuquerque Isotopes (PCL)
Breakout Hitter: A.J. Ellis (UR): .314-.438-.375, 283, 0-39, 64-44, 2-2
Disappointing Hitter: Blake DeWitt (UL): .256-.349-.426, 352, 7-47, 48-44, 2-2
Breakout Pitcher: Travis Schlichting (# 14): 13-0, 1-0, 1.42, 12.2-8-0-8-7
Disappointing Pitcher: Miguel Pinango (UR): 11-11, 2-5, 7.55, 53.2-73-8-18-30
Quick Take: Ellis and Schlichting parlayed seasons to play in the bigs at some point this season. The fact that DeWitt even played in AAA this season is a disappointment to some, but his numbers are a disappointment to all. Pinango was signed from the Mexican League and quickly proved why he was there in the first place.

AA: Chattanooga Lookouts (SL)
Breakout Hitter: James Tomlin (UR): .315-.401-.411, 387, 2-34, 54-73, 12-10
Disappointing Hitter: Russell Mitchell (UR): .241-.298-.406, 456, 13-63, 36-84, 4-1
Breakout Pitcher: Victor Garate (# 24): 46-0, 0-1, 2.08, 52-36-1-23-56
Disappointing Pitcher: James Adkins (# 26): 27-26, 6-10, 4.48, 138.2-144-8-72-81
Quick Take: Tomlin finally began to put his tools to good use and looks like a future 4th OF at worst. Garate pitched well enough that the Dodgers were able to get a return of Ronnie Belliard for him. Mitchell really struggled to put much together while Adkins apparently showed below average command of below average stuff judging by his K/BB ratio.

Hi A: Inland Empire 66ers (CAL)
Breakout Hitter: Trayvon Robinson (UR): .306-.375-.500, 470, 15-54, 50-125, 43-18
Disappointing Hitter: Preston Mattingly (UR): .238-.396-.350, 454, 8-36, 35-150, 24-13
Breakout Pitcher: Steve Johnson (# 15): 18-16, 8-4, 3.82, 96.2-94-14-42-102
Disappointing Pitcher: Josh Wall (# 29): 23-22, 5-8, 5.98, 111.1-135-9-51-77
Quick Take: Robinson put his tools together and now just needs to work on reducing his strikeouts. Johnson joins Bell in the Orioles system and looks to build on his breakout season. Mattingly has been a disappointment since entering the pro ranks. Wall struggled to do much of anything.

Lo A: Great Lakes Loons (ML)
Breakout Hitter: Devaris Gordon (# 7): Line above.
Disappointing Hitter: Austin Gallagher (# 11): .257-.319-.345, 226, 3-30, 21-43, 1-1
Breakout Pitcher: Josh Walter (UL): 32-17, 10-4, 3.27, 110-92-10-49-113
Disappointing Pitcher: Justin Miller (# 20): 21-21, 5-7, 4.70, 115-125-7-46-66
Quick Take: Gordon is one of the top prospects in the game while Walter came out of nowhere to strikeout right around 1 an inning. Gallagher's season ended with a shoulder injury while Miller's line was bad, but not as bad as what he did at Hi A (0-7, 8.13 in 7 starts).

TK's Early 2010 Top 10 Prospects:
1) Dee Gordon: SS
Oozes tools and has production to match.
2) Ethan Martin: RHP
Did nothing to dim his star this past season.
3) Chris Withrow: RHP
Good strikeout rates, can he control the walks?
4) Josh Lindblom: RHP
Convert to relief discounts him a little in my eyes
5) Aaron Miller: LHP
Supplemental 1st round lefty struck out 38 in 30 innings at Low A in debut.
6) Andrew Lambo: LF
Needs a bounce back season, but the tools are there.
7) Kyle Russell: RF
Former Texas OF hit .272 with 26 homers, 72 walks and a 20/22 on steals. He also struck out 180 times in 481 at bats.
8) Nate Eovaldi: RHP
Another of their strikeout arms that they are carefully monitoring with big upside.
9) Ivan DeJesus Jr.: SS
Can he bounce back from a broken leg and be at full strength?
10) Tim Sexton: RHP
Righthander accumulated 100 strikeouts against 34 walks in 157 innings with a frame with a lot of room for projection (6-6, 185)

Dropped From Top 10: None

Final Overview: While strong at the top, this organization still lacks some system depth, but it is returning to its old ways. Gordon looks like a true blue chip guy and both Withrow and Martin have shown flashes of being front of the rotation starters. Not having a pick until the supplemental round limited their ability to restock (though they have appeared to hit on Miller) and the loss of Bell, Johnson and Garate through trades has left this system weaker. Probably still in the 20's in regards to system strength.

Life On The Farm: Seattle Mariners (# 24)

Jack Z proved his worth on the major league team. Now he begins to prove himself in the minors.

Graduated To Majors: Michael Saunders (OF, # 2), Matt Tuiasosopo (3B, # 15), Tug Hulett (2B, UR, now in Royals system), Adam Moore (C, # 6), Rob Johnson (C, # 13), Mike Carp (1B, # 17), Shawn Kelley, (RP, # 14), Sean White (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

1 - Greg Halman: CF
R: .182-.308-.364, 11, 0-2, 2-8, 0-0
AA: .210-.278-.420, 457, 25-72, 29-183, 9-7
Quick Take: Disaster of a season. Showed no average ability, no plate discipline and he showed he doesn't know how to utilize his speed on the bases. Likely repeating AA next year.

3 - Phillippe Aumont: RP
Hi A: 29-0, 1-2, 3.24, 33.1-24-3-12-35
AA: 15-0, 1-4, 5.09, 17.2-21-1-11-24
Quick Take: Earned himself a midseason promotion to AA, where he had some struggles, but maintained his strikeout rate which is a good sign.

4 - Carlos Triunfel: SS
R: .250-.250-.313, 16, 0-4, 0-2, 1-0
AA: .231-.286-.269, 26, 0-4, 1-2, 0-0
Quick Take: Ends up being a lost season for him due to injury. Will look to bounce back next season.

5 - Juan Ramirez: SP
Hi A: 28-27, 8-10, 5.19, 142.1-154-18-53-111
Quick Take: Disappointing season, as he struggled some at Hi A. Also the lowest his strikeout rate has ever been in his career.

7 - Mario Martinez: 3B
SS: .305-.336-.434, 302, 3-33, 11-59, 4-0
Lo A: .214-.264-.314, 229, 2-24, 11-51, 1-0
Quick Take: Earned himself a mid-season demotion to short season, where he showed well again.

8 - Jharmidy DeJesus: 1B
R: .249-.340-.385, 169, 4-24, 14-43, 0-2
Quick Take: Was moved from 3rd to 1st for this season and should be ready for Low A next year.

9 - Dennis Raben: LF
DNP
Quick Take: Missed the season due to an apparanent knee injury.

10 - Michael Pineda: SP
R: 2-2, 0-0, 0.00, 3-2-0-0-4
Hi A: 10-8, 4-2, 2.84, 44.1-29-3-6-48
Quick Take: Played really well once in High A and looks like he may be ready for AA next year. Went down to injury twice with apparent tightness in his right elbow.

AAA: Tacoma Rainiers (PCL)
Breakout Hitter: Michael Saunders (# 2): .310-.378-.544, 248, 13-32, 25-48, 6-3
Disappointing Hitter: Mike Wilson (UR): .164-.260-.295, 146, 5-18, 15-50, 1-0
Breakout Pitcher: Doug Fister (UL): 22-17, 6-4, 3.89, 106.1-132-10-11-79
Disappointing Pitcher: Gaby Hernandez (# 21): 26-26, 10-9, 5.23, 146.1-158-16-48-98
Quick Take: Saunders and Fister parlayed strong seasons into solid major league debuts. Wilson really struggled and found himself back in AA. Hernandez has yet to return to the form he showed with the Marlins.

AA: West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx (SL)
Breakout Hitter: Ezequiel Carrera (UR): .337-.441-.416, 329, 2-38, 59-62, 27-13
Disappointing Hitter: Greg Halman (# 1): Line above
Breakout Pitcher: Anthony Varvaro (UR): 36-0, 4-3, 2.67, 54-29-1-44-63
Disappointing Pitcher: Josh Fields (UL due to not signing): 31-0, 2-2, 6.48, 33.1-33-2-22-36
Quick Take: Carrera had a very good season and may be on course for a major league debut late next season. Varvaro showed himself solid except for a lack of control. Halman had a setback season while Fields really battled in his first full season.

Hi A: High Desert Mavericks (CL)
Breakout Hitter: Alex Liddi (UR): .345-.411-.594, 493, 23-104, 53-122, 10-6
Dissapointing Hitter: May be impossible to disappoint at High Desert
Breakout Pitcher: Donnie Hume (UR): 28-27, 17-5, 4.81, 151.2-165-15-53-117
Disappointing Pitcher: Nathan Adcock (# 24): 21-19, 5-7, 5.29, 102-102-10-54-71
Quick Take: Liddi came from out of nowhere to take advantage of the hitting environment. Hume took all his turns and got 17 wins, which means he should still have his confidence. Adcock takes his struggles at High Desert to the Pirates organization as part of the return on the Jack Wilson trade.

Lo A: Clinton LumberKings (ML)
Breakout Hitter: Scott Savastano (UL): .300-.390-.403, 414, 6-53, 56-75, 12-1
Disappointing Hitter: Mario Martinez (# 7): Line above.
Breakout Pitcher: Kenn Kasparek (UL): 26-26, 10-6, 2.41, 141.2-126-5-32-134
Disappointing Pitcher: Maikel Cleto (# 16): 8-8, 0-3, 5.33, 25.1-35-4-11-24
Quick Take: Savastano had a strong debut season in his full-season debut. Kasparek, a 12th rounder in 2008, took a huge step forward. Martinez regained his ability with a demotion to short season. Cleto hit the DL with back issues.

TK's Early 2010 Top 10 Prospects:
1) Dustin Ackley: CF
# 2 overall pick will be making his debut in the Arizona Fall League.
2) Alex Liddi: 3B
Was the season a mirage or is this the true Liddi?
3) Michael Pineda: SP
Now looks like one of the better arms in the system, barring another injury.
4) Tyson Gillies: CF
One of the true breakout players in the system, the Futures Game alum looks to continue his progress in AA next season.
5) Phillippe Aumont: RP
Now developing as a reliever, where he can be a true closer.
6) Carlos Triunfel: 2B
Looks to have a strong bounceback season.
7) Gabriel Noriega: SS
19 year old hit .311-.360-.456 at Rookie ball and should make his full season debut next season.
8) Kenn Kasparek: SP
Breakthrough season, can he maintain a level of confidence at High Desert.
9) Will Franklin: SS
Other first rounder hit .333-.354-.476 split between Rookie and Short Season and will likely start at Rookie ball next season.
10) Greg Halman: CF
Desperately in need of a bounce back season, but still one of the most talented hitters in the organization.

Dropped From Top 10: Ramirez (# 5), Martinez (# 7), DeJesus (# 8), Raben (# 9)

Final Overview: Just a ton of injuries to pitchers, lack of production from hitters and a combination of both from others. Jack Z was the architect behind quite a few players that have led Milwaukee to their current run and now will try to replicate that behind Dustin Ackley. If some of these guys have bounceback seasons, their system will be in the Top 10. However, right now they are middle of the pack, which is actually a step up from coming into the season despite all the setbacks within the organization.