Nats farm goes from 30th to 9th in one year!

[tomterp]

In an interview with Charlie Steiner and Buck Martinez yesterday (XM 175)at the Scouts banquet in L.A., Bowden said that Baseball America now rates the Nats farm system 9th among all teams, up from 30th last year, the biggest increase ever (per Bowden).

Gotta like it!

[spidernat]

Gotta love it (if it's true). But even if it's an exaggeration, it still signals some significant progress.

[tomterp]

Gotta love it (if it's true). But even if it's an exaggeration, it still signals some significant progress.

I would like somebody to confirm it.  It may not even be published yet, as I looked on the BA site and saw no such article, but they probably discussed it with Bowden directly.  I am certain though that I heard it right per Bowden.

[natsfan1a]

I'd like to see confirmation, too, but gotta love it!

[NatsAddict]

So, from this December 21 BBA article, which is emphasized in this ranking?

"WASHINGTON NATIONALS

Highs: Embraced youth movement in the final season before moving into new ballpark along the Anacostia River . . . Stabilized front office in the first full year under Lerner family ownership and president Stan Kasten . . . Brought talent into the farm system with six picks in the first two rounds and aggressive spending on its draft class, rated as best in the industry.

Lows: Though first-year manager Manny Acta got the most out of his club, the Nationals still went just 73-89 and finished 16 games out of first place . . . Patchwork pitching staff failed to produce a single 10-game winner . . . Upper levels of farm system remain mostly barren.

Goals For 2008: Ushering talented young prospects through the low minors without growing impatient and stunting their development, while upgrading the pitching staff and fielding a competitive team in the new ballpark.

BBA

[sportsfan882]

Sounds about right to me.  We had nothing but garbage on our AAA and AA teams with the exception of a few players. 

[tomterp]

I think we obviously got a lift from some guys who had been almost written off, but who re-emerged last season to regain prospects status.  Ballester, and Maxwell are two that come to mind specifically. Also, Mock showed some signs of life, so those three guys probably accounted for some of the improvement, coupled with the 07 draft class.

[Nat of the Living Dead]

This has been confirmed via press release:

http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20080124&content_id=2354392&vkey=pr_was&fext=.jsp&c_id=was

However, we are the second largest jump.  We jumped 21 places, apparently the Rangers jumped 24.

[tomterp]

Cool, thanks.

[MrMadison]

Gotta love it (if it's true). But even if it's an exaggeration, it still signals some significant progress.

significant progress is an understatement. a vast one.

[Nat of the Living Dead]

Refill on the Kool Aid, please.

[natsfan1a]

 

[tomterp]

Old news.

 

[ronnynat]

yeah, the draft helped a little

[Dave B]

So apparently we have been active in the Latin Market, yet only E.Gonzales is listed in our top 20 (17th or something).  I know these guys are young, so maybe they havent really reached prospect status. Basically we have made this jump through american born players only.

Imagine the jump we could make when the latino players come of age, assuming we have signed well down there, and we continue drafting and trading well.