Last June, the Nationals selected Strasburg with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 draft where he was viewed by many as the best amateur pitcher of all-time with a fastball clocked in the triple digits and a nasty repertoire of breaking ball stuff. After signing a four-year deal worth $15.1 million with the Nationals before even throwing a big league pitch, Strasburg has failed to quiet the hype that surrounds him as he has simply overmatched minor league hitters and has proven he is ready to take his stuff to the big leagues. In 11 starts between Double-A and Triple-A this season, Strasburg has posted an impressive 7-2 record along with a 1.30 ERA, 65 K, and a 0.79 WHIP in 55.1 IP. Strasburg’s debut will be like no other in history as he is set to make the Nationals around $1.5 million in his first start alone, Darren Rovell of CNBC reports. Not to be outdone, the MLB Network has joined the media frenzy by televising Strasburg’s debut live with the great Bob Costas announcing from the booth. ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick recently revealed his Top 9 most-hyped baseball draft picks of all-time and the list provided some interesting names with Strasburg’s taking the top spot. The Nationals are hoping Strasburg isn’t the next Mark Prior and can have a long, illustrious career. It all starts tonight.

While not met with as much anticipation as Strasburg, baseball fans are set to see a future star in Mike Stanton make his debut for the Marlins tonight. Not to be confused with the former 19-year veteran MLB pitcher of the same name, Stanton entered the season as the No. 3 prospect in baseball according to Baseball America behind only Jason Heyward (OF) and Strasburg. With Heyward already making a impact in the big leagues, Stanton finds himself with the dubious honor of the top hitter in the minors. In 52 games at Double-A, Stanton has hit for a .311 AVG, 21 HR, and 52 RBI. With numbers like those, the Marlins are eager to bring up their top prospect where he is expected to patrol right field for the club. Stanton is a 6-foot-5, 235-pound former football player who has unprecedented power that some scouts have naturally compared him to former Marlins farmhand Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers. In 714 minor league at-bats, Stanton has hit an impressive 61 HR, which translates to a HR every 11.7 at-bats, all at the age of 20. While Strasburg will garner the most attention tonight, don’t forget to keep an eye on Stanton. It’s not often baseball sees players with this kind of talent debut in the same season let alone in the same night.

Nobody in the league office has expressed concern yet over the dip in numbers. With the economy limping to restart itself, big corporations are cutting costs and it looks as though they are not spending lavishly on the big season ticket packages as they used to. Has baseball priced itself out of the average fan’s budget? According to the Team Marketing Report, the average ticket price in MLB is $26.79. I have to admit that prices have gotten to the point where I think twice before I plunk out my hard earned money to see a ball game. How will this affect these small market teams in the future? Will there be money to pay the demands of high priced free agents? There is a trend already in baseball where teams are going younger and cheaper (see Jermaine Dye). What would your plan of action be if you were the GM of one of these cash strapped teams?

On a side note, Biz of Baseball’s Maury Brown points out that two of the five record-breaking teams play in the AL East. If these numbers are a sign of apathy toward Yankees-Red Sox stranglehold, MLB could be facing this problem for awhile.

1. Evan Longoria (24) – 60 HR and 198 RBI in first 2 seasons. Off to a great start in 2010 and should add an MVP to his collection soon.

2. Justin Upton (22) – 20 HR-20 SB guy last year. Arguably the best athlete in baseball who should reach 30 HR-30 SB in the near future.

3. Pablo Sandoval (23) – .300 hitter with 25-30 HR and 90-100 RBI ability. “Kung Fu Panda” is already a fan favorite and feared hitter.

4. Jason Heyward (20) – 2010 No. 1 prospect has gotten off to a .302, 3 HR, 15 RBI start in 43 big league at-bats at the age of 20. Looks to be the leader of the newest crop of talent from the minor leagues.

5. Matt Wieters (23) – The most-hyped prospect of 2009 has uncanny power and hitting ability from both sides of the plate. Look for Wieters to make huge strides this season and become one of the premier catchers in the near future.

6. Billy Butler (24) – .301 AVG, 21 HR, and 93 RBI in first full season. Set to become a premier slugger with 30 HR-100 RBI not out of the question.

7. Carlos Gonzalez (24) – 5-tool talent that started to showcase those tools last season. Should be a mainstay in the Rockies outfield and top of the order for years to come.

8. Adam Jones (24) – One of the best athletes on this list. Great arm and 20 HR-20 SB talent.

9. Andrew McCutchen (23) – Another 5-tool talent from the leadoff spot. Outstanding speed and developing power. Set to become premier leadoff hitter in the majors.

10. Gordon Beckham (23) – Future All-Star 2B. Made the leap from Double-A to the majors last season and displayed a good hitting prowess. The future of the White Sox.

11. Jay Bruce (23) – Has struggled to hit consistently at the big league level. The former No. 1 overall prospect has arguably the most upside of any hitter on this list and has the potential to become a big run-producer.

12. Delmon Young (24) – Like Bruce, has failed to hit consistently enough to live up to his enormous potential. Still a great talent with good upside who has hit a solid .289 for his career. Entering a make or break year in the big leagues.

13. Chris Coghlan (24) – 2009 NL Rookie of the Year is a scrappy top of the order hitter. Shows good plate discipline and should hit for a high average in his career.

14. Colby Rasmus (23) – Has above-average power and speed from the left side who hit 16 HR for the Cardinals in his rookie campaign last season. Solid defender who should be a premier center fielder within the next few years.

15. Elvis Andrus (21) – Biggest assets are his speed and defense. A future Gold Glover who projects as a leadoff hitter and threat on the basepaths.

16. Cameron Maybin (23) – One of the most talented players on this list. Currently hitting near the top of the Marlins lineup with his great speed, but has the ability to become a middle of the order hitter as he continues to grow into his frame. Looking to put it together in his first full season this year.

17. Dexter Fowler (24) – Had an up and down season at the plate last season with the Rockies as he needs to hit for a higher average. An elite defender and base-stealer (27 SB in ’09) who should be a top of the order threat with Gonzalez in the Rockies outfield.

18. Kyle Blanks (23) – After hitting 10 HR in only 148 AB last season for the Padres, the 6-6/285 lb big man projects as a huge power threat in the near future. Despite his large frame, reminiscent of the “Big Hurt” Frank Thomas, he is athletic enough to play in the outfield, though his natural position is at first base.

19. Austin Jackson (23) – The newest Tiger has gotten off to a solid start (.333 AVG, 5 RBI, 2 SB from the leadoff spot) in his first big league season. Jackson ironically projects similarly to the man he was traded for in Curtis Granderson. Look for him to rise up this list next season.

20. Alcides Escobar (23) – In his first season as the Brewers everyday shortstop. A potential game-changer with both his glove and speed.  Hit .304 in 125 AB with the Brewers last year.

21. Ike Davis (23) – The Mets top prospect made his major league debut last night against the Cubs and didn’t disappoint by going 2 for 4 with an RBI. The 18th overall selection in the 2008 draft hit 20 HR in the minors last year along with a .298 AVG. He projects as a middle of the order threat from the left side of the plate.

22. Ian Desmond (24) – The former 3rd round pick of the Nationals in 2004 is finally starting to put it together. Desmond is a late-bloomer who is starting to hit for contact consistently. He earned the starting nod at short over Cristian Guzman and looks to be the Nationals shortstop of the future.

23. Tyler Colvin (24) – After hitting .468 with 2 HR and 18 RBI in 25 Spring Training games this year, Colvin earned a spot on the Cubs 25 man roster. Currently a part of a 5 man outfield rotation in Chicago, Colvin doesn’t project to provide off the chart numbers this year. However, the former first round pick can swing the bat and also provides above average speed. Look for his name in the coming years.

24. Everth Cabrera (23) – A Rule 5 pick of the Padres last season, Cabrera took the shortstop position as his own by displaying great work with the glove and providing 25 SB in 103 games. Cabrera must hit for a higher average to become an even bigger threat on the basepaths.

25. Asdrubal Cabrera (24) – Has proven to be a solid major league infielder as his bat as caught up to his great defense. In 2009, he hit .308 and provided 68 RBI and 17 SB for the Indians. While he might not reach star status, he should have a long and productive big league career.

Honorable Mention: Julio Borbon (24), Sean Rodriguez (24), Chris Davis (24), Reid Brignac (24)

On November 19, 2006, I received a text message from my friend Dan that read “What do you think about the Cubs getting Soriano?” I thought to myself, Alfonso Soriano…the guy that just went 40/40 for the Washington Nationals…my favorite player? As a Chicago Cubs’ fan this was hard to comprehend as the organization does not have a history of going after high profile free agents–let alone getting the best free agent on the market.  I quickly checked ESPN for confirmation of this exciting, yet ambiguous text and was overjoyed to find out that the Cubs were indeed set to sign Soriano. The deal was $136 million over 8 years. No big deal.  Sure, we have “The Fonz” under contract until 2014 and the Cubs will be paying him $18 million when he is 38, but they finally made a big move.

Since that day, I have been on an emotional roller coaster ride with Fonzie, and it has not been the “Roller Coaster of Love” that the Red Hot Chilli Peppers sang to me about during high school. We are now past the days of wondering if Soriano should bat lead off or what leg ailment he will come down with next. Now, the question is whether or not Soriano should even be playing. What a fall from grace.

Despite the the injuries, gross defensive play, and lead off debate (that is now over), it hasn’t been all bad.  In fact, I would argue that offensively, the streaky Soriano was pretty good in 2007 and 2008 despite injuries that severely limited his play. His averages for the 2007 and 2008 seasons were 31 HR, 73 RBI, 87 R, .290 BA, 19 SB, and .887 OPS. When you factor the 2009 career worst season in, his three-year Cubs’ averages are 27 HR, 67 RBI, 79 R, .273 BA, 16 SB, and .833 OPS. These numbers in no way justify an $18 million contract, but are not bad considering the time he missed with injury. Without injuries, would it have been possible for Soriano to go 30/30 his first two years in Chicago? I think so. Of course, you can’t cast aside the 120 games or so that Soriano has missed, which is part of the problem the fans have with Soriano. Nevertheless, I still think he can be an extremely productive offensive player despite the rough start to 2010, but this is debatable according to ESPNs Stephania Bell.

As the ultimate Alfonso Soriano apologist, it hurt me to read ESPNs Rob Neyer suggest that the Cubs may ultimately end up releasing Soriano down the road as there is not another bad contract to trade him for since Barry Zito has been pitching well.  Aren’t there other alternatives? Derrek Lee is a free agent at the end of the year and I would say it is 50/50 on whether or not he ends up being a Cub next year.  Would you try Soriano at first base? Or better yet, being that we are only 9 games into the season, why don’t we be a little more patient, agree that Soriano is a hack in the outfield, and hope the offense comes around. I think it may, but as I said, I am a Soriano apologist. In fact, I am thinking of ways to trade for him in my fantasy leagues as I type. I bet I can trade Barry Zito for Soriano in a second Rob Neyer.

Is Soriano playing like the real Fonz?

Andrew Swanson (Evan Longoria) – Evan Longoria is one of the best third basemen around. In just two major league seasons Longoria has averaged 30 HR, .277 BA, and 99 RBI. Of the four guys we are comparing here, Longoria at 24-years-old is the youngest. He is also hitting in the heart of a lineup that will afford him a good deal of protection. There has been talk of shifting him to the clean-up spot and batting Ben Zobrist third but whether it is third or fourth in the lineup, he will have plenty of opportunities to drive in runs. I would expect a .285 BA, 30 HR, and 100 RBI again this year. One word of caution though, Longoria did complain that the turf at Tropicana Field was an issue for his hamstrings causing him to miss six starts toward the beginning of the season in 2009. In other news, Yankee great Yogi Berra said that Longoria reminds him of Joe DiMaggio. How do you beat a comparison like that?

Jason Oleniczak (Mark Reynolds) – Mark Reynolds had an elite fantasy season last year. In fact, he was the best fantasy third basemen, just look at the numbers: 44 HR, 98 R, 102 RBI, 24 SB, and .260 BA. Naysayers will shout, “Look at the low batting average, and the ridiculously high strikeouts (223) that you failed to mention.” Fair enough, the only problem is that Reynolds still posted a .349 OBP and an amazing .338 BABIP. The BABIP was not an aberration either, as Reynolds produced a .323 BABIP in 2008 and a .378  in 2007. The biggest argument you could make against Reynolds being the 2nd best third basemen is the huge jump in production from 2008 to 2009 as he went from ”good to great” (thank Jim Collins). I say it was the 26-year-old Reynolds making the 3rd year jump to being a star and look for more of the same in 2010. Take advantage of Reynolds slipping in drafts due to people overly focusing on his high strikeouts, relatively low batting average, and worrying about his quick ascent into stardom. You may be able to get a bargain on the 2nd best fantasy third basemen.

Ryan Oleniczak (David Wright) – After ARod, your fantasy team could do no wrong with David Wright as your third basemen. As recently as last season, Wright was up for consideration as the possible No. 1 overall fantasy player in baseball as his averages from 2005-2008 will attest. During that period, Wright has averaged season totals of: .311 AVG, 29 HR, 112 RBI, 106 R, and 22 SB. However, last year was unkind to Wright as he posted the worst numbers of his career hitting in an injury-riddled Mets lineup in a new ballpark in Citi Field. Wright saw his HR and RBI totals drop dramatically last season as he failed to hit at least 25 HR and 100 RBI for the first time since 2005. However, potential fantasy owners should be encouraged by Wright’s 5th consecutive season of hitting over .300 in ’09 and expect his power numbers to return in a healthy and powerful Mets middle of the lineup with the addition of Jason Bay. Wright is an ideal bounceback candidate in the NL and his 2009 power numbers should be considered an aberration as Shea Stadium was considered a pitcher’s park much like Citi Field is and Wright’s numbers did not suffer. If your league takes into account defensive statistics, Wright will help you out in that department as well as he has won 2 Gold Glove Awards in his career in 2007 and 2008. Much like Derek Jeter, Wright will also bring the possibility of a cult-like following with the ladies as his former rumored relationship with ESPN reporter Erin Andrews will add a new dimension to your team. Who wouldn’t want the lovely Erin Andrews following their team? If I had my choice, Wright is the one for me.

Jon Heintzelman (Ryan Zimmerman) – If you’re looking at what direction to go early in your draft, shoring up third base is a good idea when you consider the position is top heavy this year. While ARod remains the consensus first pick, once he is gone you are left with some intriguing options. Longoria, Wright, Reynolds, and Zimmerman are all worthy for consideration (with Ramirez and Sandoval not far behind either), but I’ll take Zimmerman over the rest. While Wright is the biggest name, any player with declining power skills entering his prime years makes me wonder. Combine that with the cavernous Citi Field and I’ll pass. Reynolds had great numbers last year but .260 BA is a huge stretch for his 60% contact rate; think more right-handed Adam Dunn with some speed and expect a more realistic .240-.250 BA. I want better BA from my top picks. That leaves Zimmerman and Longoria as options 2 and 2A. Both are line drive power hitters with solid OPS (around .900), 10%+ walk rates, and are entering their prime years (26-27). I’ll give the overall edge to Zimmerman because his slightly higher contact rate and batting eye point toward a potential 10-20 point advantage in BA. Combine that with the potential for Carl Crawford’s pending free agency and contract situation to be a distraction for the Rays, and Zimmerman gets the slight edge.

Philadelphia Phillies: Historically the Phillies are one of the least successful organizations in baseball with dubious honor of being the first to reach 10000 losses. Yet in recent years they have been a force to be reckoned with. They seem to have taken on an American League style offensive attack matched with solid starting pitching. They have reached the World Series in back to back years and successfully won in 2008. They currently are spending $36.35 million on their starting rotation.

• Roy Halladay: He is arguably the best pitcher in baseball. He has been a consistent performer on teams that have not performed well. In 2009 Halladay had 2.79 ERA, 208 K’s, 239 IP and 35 walks. He is earning $15.75 million in 2010
• Cole Hamels: Hamels is a solid young pitcher with A+ stuff. He has had some injury issues that inflated his numbers slightly but their isn’t too much to worry about here. He won’t have the pressure of being the ace on the staff so he should blossom. He posted a 4.32 ERA, 168 K’s, 193.2 IP and 43 BB’s. He will earn $6.65 million in 2010.
• J.A. Happ: Happ exploded onto the scene in Philadelphia this past season. He threw for a 2.93 ERA, 119 K’s, 166 IP and 56 walks. He will make near the minimum for 2010.
• Joe Blanton: Blanton has continued to serve as a solid middle of the rotation pitcher. He threw for a 4.05 ERA, 163 K’s, 195.1 IP and 59 BB. He will earn $7 million in ’10.
• Jamie Moyer: At age 47 Moyer is getting to the point where he is old enough of to be some of his teammates father. Yet, he has been been a serviceable pitcher who will eat up quite a few innings and give you team a chance to win even if he is only topping out at 86 mph on his fastball. He threw for 4.94 ERA, 94 K’s, 162 IP and 43 walks. He will make $6.5 million in 2010.

Florida Marlins: The Marlins are an anomaly is the world of Major League Baseball. They consistently have one of the lowest payrolls year in and year out. Yet, they always find a way to stay competitive and have even won a couple of World Series championships. With the knack of developing good young pitchers that have success at the major league level other small market teams should look at their player development and take notes. The Marlins rotation is costing them $9.7 million.

• Josh Johnson: This young hurler is the aces of the Marlins staff. 2009 was the first season he was injury free and the dividends paid off. He threw for a 3.23 ERA, 191 K’s, 209 IP and 58 walks. Johnson earns $3.75 million in 2010
• Ricky Nolasco: Nolasco had a lot of buzz surrounding him entering the 2009 season but got off to a horrendous start and was options down to the minors. He regain his composure, was called back up and found success. He numbers for 2009 were 5.06 ERA, 195 K’s, 185 IP and 44 BB. He earns $3.8 million in 2010
• Anibal Sanchez: Sanchez has had injuries that has limited him to 49 starts and one relief appearance over the past four seasons but when healthy he has definitely has the stuff to be a success starter. He pitched for a 3.87 ERA, 71 K’s, 86 IP and 46 walks. He makes $1.25 million this season.
• Sean West: West showed a lot of promise in his rookie season. He is sure to have some growing pains having only thrown 167 inning above the Class A level. He posted a 4.79 ERA, 70 K’s, 103.1 IP and 44 walks. West will earn near the minimum in 2010.
• Chris Volstad: Volstad will be looking to rebound after going through a bad sophomore slump. He threw for a 5.21 ERA, 107 K’s, 159 IP and 59 BB. He will earn the minimum this season.

Atlanta Braves: The Braves have always been a team that has been known for pitching. With guys like Warren Spahn, Phil Neikro, Greg Maddux and company the Braves have come to expect a solid rotation year in and year out. This year will be no exception. They are paying $31.467 million in 2010 for these arms.

• Jair Jurrjens: Jurrjens is a work horse that has improved with each year he has been in the majors. He had a little scare with some shoulder soreness but there is nothing serious and he looks to be a leading candidate for the ace position. In 2009 he threw for a 2.60 ERA, 152 K’s, 215 IP and 75 BB’s. He is a steal at near the league minimum for 2010.
• Derek Lowe: Lowe signed a 4 year $60 million deal in 2009 to be the ace of the Braves staff. He did not perform up to their expectation and they subsequently were looking to trade him this off season. He posted a 4.67 ERA, 111 K’s, 194.2 IP and 63 walks. He will earn $15 million this year.
• Tommy Hanson: Hanson wasted no time in dominating the opposition in his rookie season. Look for Hanson to be not only the ace of the Braves staff for years to come but one of the top pitchers in all of baseball. He threw for a 2.89 ERA, 116 K’s, 127.2 IP and 46 walks. He will make near the minimum.
• Tim Hudson: Returning from Tommy John surgery last season Hudson proved that he is still capable of putting up great numbers. He will be a consistent veteran presence on the mound. He pitche for a 3.61 ERA, 30 K’s, 42.1 IP and 13 walks. He earns $9 million in 2010.
• Kenshin Kawakami: Kawakami rounds out the rotation for the Braves in 2010. He put up good numbers in his rookie season and makes for an excellent 5th starter. He threw for a 3.86 ERA, 105 K’s, 156.1 IP and 57 walks. He makes $6.667 million this season.

New York Mets: To say the Mets had a bad season last year is putting it mildly. The wheels feel off due to injuries and a new ball park seemed to effect the power numbers for the hitters. The Mets are biggest spenders in the NL East so are they getting their money’s worth at approximately $38 million for their starting rotation?

• Johan Santana: A perennial Cy Young contender Johan Santana is great arm to have at the top of your rotation. He was one of the many injuries the Mets sustained last year. He is expected to be back at full strength for 2010. He threw for a 3.13 ERA, 146 K’s, 166.2 IP and 46 walks. He earn a whopping $21 million in 2010.
• Mike Pelfrey: Pelfrey was a highly touted prospect in the Mets system. He showed promise in his first full season in ’08 but regressed in his sophomore campaign with a 5.03 ERA, 107 K’s 184.1 IP and 66 BB. He will earn $500 thousand in 2010.
• John Maine: Maine has struggles with the injury bug the past two season. When healthy he is tough to hit even though he can be wild. He threw for a 4.43 ERA 55 K’s, 81.1 IP and 38 BB. He will earn $3.3 million in 2010.
• Oliver Perez: Perez has been a thorn in the side of Omar Minaya and the Mets for quite some time. Notoriously wild with flashes of brilliance just doesn’t seem to be able to put it all together. Last season he threw for a 6.82 ERA, 62 K’s, 66 IP and 58 BB’s. He will make a painful $12 million in 2010.
• Fernando Nieve: Nieve was an effective pitcher for about a month until he went down with a torn right quad. He will be giving a chance at earning a rotation spot in 2010 and Jerry Manuel has indicated he is the favorite. He threw for 2.95 ERA, 23 K’s, 36.2 IP and 19 walks. He earns the minimum for 2010.
• Jon Niese: Niese tore a hamstring in 2009 but performed admirably when he was healthy. He will also compete for a rotation spot. He threw for 4.21 ERA, 18 K’s, 25.2 IP and 17 BB. He will earn the minimum in 2010.
• Hisanori Takahashi: A late comer to the competition Takahashi was signed from Japan where he threw for a 2.94 ERA. He will earn $1 million if he makes the Major League club.

Washington Nationals: While the Nationals are the cellar dwellers in the NL East they have take significant steps in improving their ball club. They have drafted top tier talent and have improved their offense as well. They still have a ways to go but they are by no means complete push over anymore. Their rotation will earn as much as $16 million in 2010.

• Jason Marquis: The Nationals made a splash (albeit small) in the free agent marketing this year by signing Marquis as the ace of their staff. Most places he would be a bottom of the rotation starter but he does provide some stability in a volatile rotation. He threw for 4.04 ERA, 115 K’s, 216 IP and 80 BB last year. He will earn $7.5 million this season.
• Chien-Ming Wang: Wang is just what the Nationals need. He is a consistent pitcher who will keep the ball in the ball park. He has struggled with an injury last season but he as an anchor in the Yankees rotation for years. He threw for 9.64 ERA, 29 K’s, 42 IP and 19 walks. He can earn up to $5 million in performance bonuses in 2010.
• John Lannan: As the aces for the staff last season Lannan performed quite well. He is young and has improved over the last two season. He eats innings and gets outs even if his strike out numbers aren’t stellar. He threw for a 3.88 ERA, 89 K’s, 206.1 IP and 68 BB. He makes near the minimum for this season.
• Scott Olsen: Olsen was once one of the most promising young starters in baseball but his career has been derailed by injury and ineffectiveness. He should be completely recovered from shoulder surgery. He threw for a 6.03 ERA, 42 K’s, 62.2 IP and 25 BB. He will earn $1 million in 2010.
• J.D. Martin: Martin was a serviceable starter for the Nationals last season. He will compete for a rotation spot again this season. He threw for a 4.44 ERA, 37 K’s, 77 IP and 24 walks. Martin makes the minimum.
• Garrett Mock: Mock is a servicable back of the rotation guy for the Nationals. His numbers are expected to improve this season but don’t hold your breath. He threw for a 5.62 ERA, 72 K’s, 91.1 IP and 44 walks. He earns near the minimum.
• Jordan Zimmermann: Zimmermann is one of the brightest prospects the Nationals have. He had to under go Tommy John Surgery in 2009 and doesn’t seem to factor into the rotation until mid season at the absolute earliest. He threw for a 4.63 ERA, 92 K’s, 91.1 IP and 29 BB. He earns near the minimum as well.
• Steven Strasburg: The crown jewel in the Nationals system at the moment Strasburg is a huge question mark. He performed well in the Arizona fall league but who knows how he will stack up against major league talent. He has 100 mph fastball but those can have a tendency to go a long ways if you aren’t fooling anyone. He will earn $2 million in 2010.

There is a lot of talented pitching in the NL East. It is a tough call for me on who is the best. Obviously the Marlins have a lot of talent for cheap but that talent is raw and injury prone. The Phillies and the Braves seem to be in the same ballpark talent wise and payroll wise. I would have to give the edge to the Braves. The have the potential to have 4 aces on their staff with Jurrjens, Hanson, Hudson and Lowe. Plus Kawakami has put up great numbers compared to the 5th starter on any of the other teams. At $31.467 million the Brave get my vote for best rotation in the NL East for 2010.

ESPN.com’s 2010 Top 10 Prospects

1. Jason Heyward (OF) Atlanta Braves (1) – The consensus overall No.1 prospect on both lists. Braves fans should be excited for the arrival of this 5 tool talent in the near future.

2. Stephen Strasburg (RHP) Washington Nationals (2) – The consensus top pitching prospect on both lists. The Nationals hope Strasburg lives up to all the hype and brings home a Cy Young Award in the future.

3. Carlos Santana (C) Cleveland Indians (11) – Santana just missed cracking the top 10 on Mayo’s list, but safely finds his name on this list. Santana is a switch-hitting catcher who has left scouts raving about his ability to change the game with both his arm and bat. He has drawn comparisons to the player he is expecting to replace in Cleveland, Victor Martinez. The Indians are expected to give Santana one more year of seasoning in the minors before making him their everyday backstop in 2011.

4. Buster Posey (C) San Francisco Giants (4) – The battle for the title of the top catching prospect in the game between Santana and Posey was won by Santana on this list. However, Posey safely finds his name at No. 4 on both lists and is looking like a potential cornerstone behind the plate for many years.

5. Mike Stanton (OF) Florida Marlins (3) – Stanton takes a little step back on this list, but finds his name in the top 5 on both lists. Many scouts are in unison of their praise of Stanton and his ability to drive in runs and hit the long ball better than anyone in the minors. Marlins fans should see him patrolling right field very soon.

6. Desmond Jennings (OF) Tampa Bay Rays (6) – Jennings anchors the 6th spot on both lists. The question in Tampa is can they make an outfield with Carl Crawford in LF, Jennings in CF, and B.J. Upton in RF happen. Crawford is a free agent after the season and is questionable to return. However unlikely the possibility of all three players in the outfield together, Rays fans can dream of such a scenario which would be the fastest and most exciting outfield in all of baseball.

7. Martin Perez (LHP) Texas Rangers (18) – The Rangers find another pitching prospect in the top 10 in Perez. The 19-year old lefty has drawn comparisons to fellow lefty Johan Santana with his size and stuff. The Rangers will be cautious with Perez as he is still extremely young. He isn’t expected to reach the majors until 2012 at the earliest, but Perez’s progress could speed up the process sooner. The Rangers organization is ecstatic about their young arms and Perez could be the best.

8. Dustin Ackley (2B) Seattle Mariners (15) – The 2nd overall pick of the 2009 draft is making the switch from CF to 2B this season. How well Ackley adjusts to the position change will determine how fast he reaches the majors. He was considered the most advanced hitter in last year’s draft as he provides a high average with a great knack for getting on base. The only knock on Ackley is that his power has yet to develop and is still a work in progress. Currently, the Mariners have him penciled him for a trip to the majors at some point in 2011, but could be be later than that due to the position change.

9. Justin Smoak (1B) Texas Rangers (9) – Another name to find his name on both lists and at the same spot as well. Smoak would be penciled into most starting lineups this season, however, the Rangers don’t have room for his services this season with Chris Davis at first and Vladimir Guerrero as the primary DH. As mentioned before, Smoak has drawn comparisons to Mark Teixeira and should be a big-time run producer in the majors.

10. Jesus Montero (C) New York Yankees (19) – Another catching prospect cracks the top 10 as the Yankees hope they have find their successor to Jorge Posada behind the plate. Montero’s defense has been questioned, but he was reported to make progress behind the plate last season. There is no question about Montero’s ability to swing the bat as he has immense power and plate discipline. The Yankees have kept Montero’s name out of trade discussions and that says a lot. The team should have no problem behind the plate after Posada departs.

It is interesting to see the different top prospects list that come out every year. You often hear the term “can’t-miss prospect” loosely in baseball, which is true sometimes. The developmental process in baseball is crucial for sustained success in the league. The Braves of the 90s and the Twins are two organizations that seemingly always have a knack for producing quality home-grown talent. The Rays are a team that I see starting to follow that mold as they are starting to produce some exciting young arms and hitters. For a complete list of Law’s rankings please visit the link above.

]]> http://www.amateurgm.com/top-prospects-analysis-part-two/feed 0 http://www.amateurgm.com/2010-top-prospects-analysis http://www.amateurgm.com/2010-top-prospects-analysis#comments Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:23:58 +0000 Ryan Oleniczak http://www.amateurgm.com/?p=944 As the Hot Stove season starts to come to an end with pitchers and catchers due to report to camp within a few weeks, it is now time to start taking a look at the 2010 season. Last week, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com and Keith Law of ESPN.com released their top prospects list for the 2010 season. Both Mayo and Law do a great job of talking to scouts and team personnel to compile their lists. Many prospects find their names on both lists, however, Mayo and Law present contrasting analysis of their top 10 prospects. Here is a breakdown of Mayo’s list.

MLB.com’s 2010 Top 10 Prospects

1. Jason Heyward (OF) Atlanta Braves - The 20-year old outfielder is a rare 5-tool talent who possesses power, average, speed, and a plus arm all from the left-hand side of the plate. Heyward was the 14th overall pick in the 2007 draft and was ranked as the No. 3 overall prospect in 2009. Heyward is expected to reach the majors in 2010 and is a possibility to break camp with the team. The future is bright for this prospect.

2. Stephen Strasburg (RHP) Washington Nationals – The No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 draft is arguably the most heralded pitching prospect since Mark Prior. In three years at San Diego St., Strasburg only allowed 144 hits in 243.1 IP along with 375 K and 50 BB (.797 WHIP). His fastball tops out in the triple digits and has a slider/curve breaking ball that is devastating on hitters. The Nationals are expected to take a cautious approach with Strasburg as he is deemed the future face of the franchise. Despite this cautious approach, it will be hard for the Nationals not to bring Strasburg to the majors at some point in 2010.

3. Mike Stanton (OF) Florida Marlins – Stanton was the 2nd round pick (76th overall) of the Marlins in 2007. The 20-year outfielder is considered to have the best power of any hitter in the minor leagues as his 67 HR in two minor league seasons will attest to that. Stanton is expected to patrol right field for the Marlins, possibly as soon as 2011. He is expected to play in Triple-A for 2010 with a September call-up to the big leagues a possibility.

4. Buster Posey (C) San Francisco Giants – The 5th overall pick of the 2008 draft made huge strides in 2009 as he made the jump from Class A all the way to a September call-up with the big league team. Posey threw out 46 % of potential basestealers in 2009 and has 20 HR potential at the plate. Posey is expected to get one more year of seasoning behind the plate with the return of Bengie Molina to San Francisco. His eye is on 2011 when he should be a cornerstone behind the plate for many years to come.

5. Brian Matusz (LHP) Baltimore Orioles – The No. 4 overall pick of the 2008 draft made his major league debut in 2009 as he made 8 starts with the Orioles last season. In those starts, Matusz went 5-2 with a 4.63 ERA in 44.2 IP. Matusz has drawn comparisons to fellow lefty Cliff Lee of the Seattle Mariners. He is expected to break camp with the Orioles as a member of their starting rotation and is considered a top-of-the-rotation starter in the future.

6. Desmond Jennings (OF) Tampa Bay Rays – The 10th round pick (289th overall) of the Rays in 2006 made arguably the biggest strides of any minor leaguer in 2009. Jennings didn’t find his name among the top prospects last season, but had an impressive ’09 season where he swiped 52 bases and had his first injury-free season of his minor league career. Jennings is projected to be a leadoff hitter in the majors and is expected to patrol center field in 2011 for the Rays.

7. Neftali Feliz (RHP) Texas Rangers – Acquired from the Braves in the Mark Teixeira trade in 2007, Feliz made some noise in 2009. In 31 IP out of the pen for the Rangers, Feliz had an impressive 1.74 ERA with 39 K and only 13 hits allowed. Feliz sports a fastball that reaches the triple digits and is simply overpowering at times. He is expected to be a setup man to closer Frank Francisco in 2010. Feliz projects as either a top-of-the-rotation starter or shutdown closer in his career. The difficulty for the Rangers is deciding which role suits him best.

8. Pedro Alvarez (3B) Pittsburgh Pirates – The 2nd overall pick in the 2008 draft had an impressive 27 HR last season in the minors. Alvarez is expected to be a middle-of-the order power threat in Pittsburgh who is known for his great plate discipline. The challenge for the Pirates is whether Alvarez has enough range to play third base in the majors or if he is better suited at first base. Either way, Alvarez is the top prospect in the Pirates organization and should arrive to the majors in 2011.

9. Justin Smoak (1B) Texas Rangers – The 11th overall pick of 2008 draft is the second Rangers prospect in the top 10. Smoak has scouts drooling with his power and average from both sides of the plates. The switch-hitter has drawn comparisons to former Rangers farmhand Mark Teixeira (1B) of the New York Yankees. He projects to be a middle-of-the-order threat from either first base or as a DH. The Rangers will be tempted to find Smoak a spot in 2010, but 2011 seems more likely for Smoak to find an everyday spot in the Rangers lineup.

10. Madison Bumgarner (LHP) San Francisco Giants – The 10th overall pick of the 2007 draft is the second Giant to find his name in the top 10. Bumgarner made his Major League debut in 2009 as he appeared in 4 games (1 start) and produced a 1.80 ERA in 10 IP along with 10 K. Bumgarner will compete for a spot in the starting rotation in camp and is expected to be a rotation staple with Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain for years to come in San Francisco.

Tomorrow I will take a look at Keith Law’s Top 10 prospects and see how it stacks up to Mayo’s list. For a complete list of the top 50 prospects according to Mayo, please check out the link above.

For his career, Dawson was a five-tool player who possessed power, speed, average, and Gold Glove defense. His arm was one of the best of any outfielder in his era, as not many players would test him. He is one of only three players all-time to hit at least 400 HR and have 300 SB in his career, joining only Willie Mays and Barry Bonds. He was named the NL Rookie of the Year in 1977 with the Montreal Expos and was also an 8-time NL Gold Glove Award winner. His best season was in 1987 when he was named the NL MVP with the Chicago Cubs where he had a .287 AVG, 49 HR, and 137 RBI. Dawson was also an 8-time All-Star, 7 of which he was a starter. For his career, he had a .279 AVG, 438 HR, 1,591 RBI, 2,774 Hits, 1,373 Runs, and 314 SB in 21 seasons with four teams (Expos, Cubs, Red Sox, and Marlins).

As a Cubs fan, I couldn’t be happier to see “The Hawk” make it into the Hall of Fame. This is a long overdue selection as Cooperstown is getting another excellent player into its shrine. Dawson was a rare combination of power, speed, and defense, who was a class act player and teammate throughout his career. I can even faintly remember as a kid watching the right field Bleacher Bums at Wrigley Field bowing down to “The Hawk” as he ran out to his position. He played the game hard and with respect and his spot in Cooperstown is well-deserved. The only question remains what cap he will wear upon induction as he spent 11 years in his career with the Montreal Expos, but became a household name with the Chicago Cubs for 6 seasons. No matter what cap he decides to wear, the Hall of Fame has just gotten a little better.

9. Ryan Zimmerman – The current face of the Washington Nationals starts off our list at No. 9. In 4 full seasons in the majors, Zimmerman has averaged 23 HR and 90 RBI a season. Last season was his best season in his early career as he was selected to his 1st All Star Game and won his 1st Gold Glove Award. In his career, Zimmerman has a .284 AVG, 91 HR,  and 364 RBI. While a good young player with a bright future, I question whether he has done enough in his career to warrant a spot on this list.

8. Mike Lowell – This decade Lowell established himself as one of the better third basemen in the game despite not being particularly flashy. For the decade, he had a .282 AVG, 206 HR, and 879 RBI with the Florida Marlins and Boston Red Sox. Lowell also added his lone Gold Glove Award to his credit back in 2005. In 2007, he was named the World Series MVP as he hit nearly .400 in the series and was a vital piece for the Red Sox 2nd Championship of the decade. Lowell was also a 4-time All Star in the decade. While it is easy to overlook Lowell in today’s game, he was a solid performer over the decade despite battling some nagging injuries.

7. Eric Chavez – For the first part of the decade, Chavez was one of the premier third basemen in the game. From 2000-2006, Chavez won 6 AL Gold Glove Awards with the Oakland A’s and averaged 28 HR and 94 RBI a season. During that period, he produced two 30 HR seasons and four 100 RBI seasons. However, over the past 3 seasons, Chavez has failed to play more than 90  games in a season and faces the possibility of early retirement due to chronic back problems. For the decade, he had a .269 AVG, 216 HR, and 721 RBI. It’s a shame that injuries have taken over his career, as he was truly both a great hitter and defender when healthy.

6. Aramis Ramirez – The former Pittsburgh Pirate has become one of the best hitting third basemen in the game since his trade to the Chicago Cubs in 2003. As a member of the Cubs, Ramirez has been a constant run producer with three 30 HR seasons and four 100 RBI seasons. At his best, Ramirez is a very clutch hitter who has a knack for driving in the big runs. For the decade, Ramirez had a .289 AVG, 258 HR, and 915 RBI. The Cubs are definately not the same team without his bat in the lineup as last season’s injury-plagued season for Ramirez will attest.

5. Scott Rolen – Rolen was arguably the best defensive third basemen of the decade as he was a 6-time NL Gold Glove Award winner. He wasn’t too shabby with the bat as well as he had a .285 AVG, 201 HR, and 832 RBI for the decade. Like Chavez, Rolen has been plagued by injuries since 2007 and is looking to revert back to old form with the Cincinnati Reds next season. Barring injury, Rolen would have found his name higher on this list due to being a consistent 20+ HR and 90+ RBI threat every season along with his excellent defense.

4. David Wright – In just 5 full seasons in the big leagues, Wright has established himself as an elite third basemen. From 2005-2009, Wright averaged 29 HR and 112 RBI a season and was selected to 4 All-Star games. In 2007, Wright became a member of the 30-30 club when he hit 30 HR and stole 34 bases. He also provided excellent defense as he won back to back NL Gold Glove Awards in 2007 and 2008. For his career, Wright has a .309 AVG, 140 HR, 561 RBI, and 119 SB. While last season was a down year for Wright, the future is bright for him and the New York Mets at third base.

3. Troy Glaus – A questionable choice for the No. 3 spot on this list goes to Glaus. From 2000-2002, Glaus averaged 39 HR and 107 RBI a season. In 2002, Glaus was named the World Series MVP for the formerly named Anaheim Angels. Glaus saw his Angels career end after two injury plagued seasons in 2003 and 2004. He would go on to have another impressive run from 2005-2008, where he averaged 31 HR and 91 RBI a season with 3 teams. Glaus was nonexistent last season as he only appeared in 14 games with the St. Louis Cardinals due to injury. For the decade, he had a .259 AVG, 274 HR, and 777 RBI. When healthy, Glaus was an excellent home run hitter, however, I feel he is ranked a little too high on this list as he had 3 seasons where he was virtually non-existent in the league. Glaus recently signed a one year deal with the Atlanta Braves to play first base.

2. Chipper Jones – Chipper was the premier third basemen in the NL this decade with the Atlanta Braves. He hit .311 for the decade and won a batting title in 2008 with a .364 AVG. Chipper is one of the best switch hitters of all-time as he trails only Mickey Mantle and Eddie Murray for most home runs for a switch hitter with 426 HR in his career. Like many of the players on this list, Chipper has had his fair share of nagging injuries of late, but is still a dangerous hitter when healthy. For the decade, he had a .311 AVG (as noted above), 273 HR, and 921 RBI. Chipper is considering retirement after next season as he feels his days as a premier third basemen are behind him.

1. Alex Rodriguez – The only player to find his name on the list at two different positions is none other than “ARod”.  Since becoming a full-time third basemen in 2004, ARod has done nothing to hurt his legacy as one of the best in the game. He would add 2 more AL MVP Awards to his credit in 2005 and 2007 with the New York  Yankees. In 2007, he became the 22nd player in MLB history to join the 500 HR club for his career. For the decade, ARod had a .304 AVG, 435 HR, 1,243 RBI, and 179 SB. Next season, ARod is expected to become the newest member of the 600 HR club as he needs only 17 HR to reach that number. Despite the much talked about steroids issue from last season, ARod should still find his name in Cooperstown someday as he has put up numbers very few players have ever accomplished.

The first word that comes to mind after looking at this list is injuries. The majority of the players on this list have battled injuries over multiple seasons which has hurt their overall production for the decade. I felt a few guys on this list were ranked a little high and I feel if Ryan Zimmerman is on the list, you might as well put Evan Longoria’s name on there even though he has only played 2 seasons. It will be interesting to see where the position goes from here. I expect David Wright to carry the torch for the next decade.

Up Next: Top 9 Outfielders of the Decade