Media Top Prospects Lists

[HalfSmokes]

Certain teams always seem to be able to pull out great players from the minors though (rays and braves come to mind) while others either seem to have nothing in the pipeline or to ruin what they do have (Astros and Os respectively)

[JMUalumni]

Its different in every case.  Some players rely very little on coaches, while other players like Hood or Peacock rely heavily on the minor league staffs.  Sure most of them all work hard, but that alone isn't usually going to get you to the show.  Just having talent is the most important thing, but having good coaching/developmental staffs will help maximize that talent.  So to answer your question, the coaches in the organization have been pretty good for some time now, the talent has always been the biggest issue.  They have a lot more of that now.

[Lintyfresh85]

Sometimes I wish there was a "Nationals Way" of developing players much like how the Dodgers and Orioles once used to be.

Then I realize I'd probably hate what the organization would want out of an ideal player (no strikeouts, just ground balls as a pitcher, and hard bodies on offense) and am relieved they don't have a mold, at least officially, they look for.

[NJ Ave]

Rizzo is an all-time jeans salesman.

[NFA Brian]

Rizzo is an all-time jeans salesman.

That's not necessarily a bad thing. Just because Billy Beane found success from his model of market inefficiency doesn't mean that the traditional scouting process is archaic

Cast as many stones as you want about the MLB signings, they deserve the criticism

But coming from a guy that spent far too much time analyzing the god awful mess that showed up from Montreal followed by Bowden's reign of error, Rizzo and his folks have put together a pretty solid scouting and PD staff. They're not the trail blazers but they are definitely in the top 10,

[Lintyfresh85]

Here's a report from BA on the '32nd team' guys that didn't make their handbook (which is great btw)

Dan Cortes, rhp, Nationals

Born: March 4, 1987. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-6. Wt.: 215. Drafted: HS—Pomona, Calif., 2005 (7th round). Signed by: Dan Ontiveros (White Sox).

Cortes made Baseball America's overall Top 100 Prospects list before the 2008 and 2009 seasons, but he has been with three organizations since because he hasn't been able to throw enough strikes. Originally drafted by the White Sox, he went to the Royals in a 2006 trade for Mike MacDougal. Kansas City sent him to the Mariners in a 2009 deal for Yuniesky Betancourt, and Seattle nontendered him in December 2011. The Nationals signed him to a minor league contract in January. Cortes has a 94-96 mph fastball and below-average control, so hitters have few comfortable at-bats against him. After using a slider in 2010, he relied more on a hard curveball last year. His curve is a swing-and-miss pitch at times, but when he can't put it in the strike zone, hitters sit on his fastball. Cortes has been criticized in the past for being immature—the Royals traded him after he was arrested for public intoxication and disorderly conduct—but he has grown up since then. Mariners coaches praised his willingness to listen to instruction and his drive in 2011. Washington will give him an opportunity to make its bullpen in spring training.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Not only was this guy traded for Mike MacDougal, he is Mike MacDougal.

I say his nickname should be "Klej II."

[blue911]

Not only was this guy traded for Mike MacDougal, he is Mike MacDougal.

I say his nickname should be "Klej II, Attack of the Clones"

[Rasta]

Baseball America had us at #1 before the Gio trade.  Interesting to see where they would put us now.

[NFA Brian]

Baseball America had us at #1 before the Gio trade.  Interesting to see where they would put us now.

Since they lost two of the top ten and three of the top twenty, I'd say a drop to somewhere around #10 would make sense. BA was really high on both Cole & Peacock (Peacock made the top 50 of the BA writers)

[Bloo]

I can't believe Bryce was robbed of the #1 spot. They are probably just intimidated by looking to his beautiful, enchanting eyes and dimples.

[comish4lif]

The Golden Sombrero - http://thegoldensombrero.com/wordpress/archives/5876 - has Anthony Rendon as their #7 Prospect in MLB.

Rendon was our top guy going into the 2011 draft, injured or not.  This kind of bat is not common.  It might be draftable every five years or so, and it very rarely if ever can play a premium defensive position, let alone play it well.  Yeah, Anthony Rendon is a tremendously valuable prospect for the Nationals and should challenge for MVP votes as early as 2014.

Follow link for Rendon videos.

[zimm_da_kid]

from the washington post:

Even after the deal, the Nationals have one of the strongest systems on baseball, topped with 2010 first overall pick Bryce Harper and stocked with several other players signed out of the draft using contracts well above the “slot” value recommended by Major League Baseball. Jim Callis, Baseball America’s prospect guru, said the Nationals will still likely be ranked between No. 5 and 10 when the magazine updates its rankings this spring despite losing four of their top 13 players.

now let's sign soler and one of the availabke cuban pitchers to get us back up to number 1.