Life On The Farm: Oakland Athletics (# 3)

Is this system still strong after a rash of defections?

Graduated To Majors: Aaron Cunningham (OF, # 4), Cliff Pennington (SS, # 17), Landon Powell (C, UR), Trevor Cahill (SP, # 2), Vin Mazzarro (SP, # 8), Ryan Webb (RP, UR, now with Padres), Henry Rodriguez (RP, # 14), Andrew Bailey (RP, # 23), Brett Anderson (SP, # 1), Gio Gonzalez (SP, # 7), Josh Outman (SP, # 12), Jerry Blevins (RP, # 20), Brad Kilby (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 - Michael Ynoa: RHP
DNP
Quick Take: Spent the year in extended spring training to get acclimated to the states and build arm strength.

5 - Adrian Cardenas: 2B
AA: .326-.392-.446, 325, 3-55, 38-44, 5-4
AAA: .251-.317-.372, 183, 1-24, 17-29, 3-2
Quick Take: Struggled in a quick look at AAA and will likely start next season there.

6 - Chris Carter: 1B
AA: .337-.435-.576, 490, 24-101, 82-119, 13-5
AAA: .259-.293-.519, 54, 4-14, 3-14, 0-1
Quick Take: In his brief look at AAA, he once again showed his above average power potential.

9 - Jemile Weeks: 2B
Hi A: .299-.385-.468, 201, 7-31, 26-40, 5-1
AA: .238-.303-.343, 105, 2-13, 10-16, 4-0
Quick Take: Likely starts next year at AA after playing in the Futures Game.

10 - James Simmons: RHP
AAA: 23-22, 7-7, 5.72, 119.2-139-8-47-81
Quick Take: Skipped AA and jumped from High A and had some struggles.

AAA: Sacramento River Cats (PCL)
Breakout Hitter: Tommy Everidge (UL): .368-.428-.632, 201, 12-41, 23-34, 0-0
Disappointing Hitter: Gregorio Petit (UR): .244-.292-.336, 357, 5-32, 26-83, 0-2
Breakout Pitcher: Gio Gonzalez (# 7): 12-12, 4-1, 2.51, 61-42-5-34-71
Disappointing Pitcher: James Simmons (# 10): Line above.
Quick Take: Everidge earned a quick midseason look in Oakland and didn't look too out of place. Gonzalez capitalized on his strong half season at AAA to get a look in Oakland's rotation. Petit was expected to be the first call-up if the team needed an utility infielder while Simmons is in need of a bounceback season.

AA: Midland RockHounds (TL)
Breakout Hitter: Chris Carter (# 6): Line above.
Dissapointing Hitter: Josh Horton (UR): .263-.343-.357, 510, 5-62, 65-65, 9-3
Breakout Pitcher: Graham Godfrey (UR): 28-28, 11-8, 3.50, 159.1-153-8-51-110
Disappointing Pitcher: James Heuser (UL): 32-0, 0-2, 6.03, 37.1-40-3-33-37
Quick Take: Carter earned a quick 1-month promotion to AAA while Godfrey showed a semblance of a strikeout rate, which is better then most of the other RockHounds. Horton had the worst season of a pretty strong group of hitters while Heuser's struggles got him released.

Hi A: Stockton Ports (CL)
Breakout Hitter: Grant Desme (# 30): .304-.398-.656, 227, 20-51, 33-67, 16-5
Disappointing Hitter: Christian Vitters (UL): .216-.280-.367, 305, 8-39, 25-80, 4-2
Breakout Pitcher: Ben Hornbeck (UL): 21-11, 5-4, 3.52, 76.2-64-3-32-111
Disappointing Pitcher: Craig Italiano (# 24): 16-16, 5-6, 5.63, 76.2-83-6-40-75
Quick Take: Desme had a huge year and got a look in the Arizona Fall League. Hornbeck showed a great strikeout rate and solid command. Vitters had some struggles. Italiano has failed to capitalize on his former 1st round pick status.

Lo A: Kane County Cougars (ML)
Breakout Hitter: Steve Kleen (UL): .282-.358-.436, 259, 8-46, 28-45, 3-3
Disappointing Hitter: Carlos Arrieche (UL): .180-.232-.205, 239, 1-16, 13-48, 0-4
Breakout Pitcher: Anthony Capra (UR): 18-18, 4-7, 3.24, 100-70-9-40-103
Disappointing Pitcher: Brett Hunter (# 19): 21-8, 0-1, 6.85, 47.1-38-2-59-55
Quick Take: Kleen, a 26 year old OF, excelled in his midseason promotion at Hi A, hitting .342 with 7 homers. Capra got a promotion to Hi A for the last half of the season in his full-season debut and continued to excel, posting a line of 9-9, 2-2, 3.12, 52-42-6-21-67. Arrieche had a lot of struggles while Hunter showed no command of his stuff.

TK's Early 2010 Top 10 Prospects:
1) Chris Carter: 1B
Futures Game alum shows massive power potential.
2) Brett Wallace: 1B
Top prospect acquired from Cardinals may be ready for debut next season.
3) Grant Green: SS
1st round pick this past June had a chance to go # 1 overall.
4) Michael Ynoa: RHP
Will likely make a debut in R ball next season.
5) Adrian Cardenas: 2B
May make his debut next season.
6) Jemile Weeks: 2B
Set to start next year at AA and compete with Cardenas to be the A's 2B of the future.
7) Josh Donaldson: C
Passed the AA test and looks ready to be a solid contributor to the big league team eventually (.270-.379-.415, 455, 9-91, 80-92, 7-2)
8) Sam Demel: RHP
In 55 games split between AA and AAA, the reliever struck out 59 in 61.2 innings.
9) Max Stassi: C
3rd round pick was regarded as one of the top catchers available.
10) Grant Desme: OF
One of the true breakout prospects for the Athletics this past year, can he maintain the level of production?

Dropped From Top 10: None.

Final Overview: This system has taken a step back due to the starting pitching graduations, though the acquisition of Brett Wallace provided some support. The team has offensive players coming through the system who should be able to provide some help to those young pitchers. Grant Green looked like a solid 1st round pick and should be an above average shortstop option down the line. Stocked full of bats now and a lot of middle infield prospects, this is likely an early teens system now.