LuckyBen said:
So you take the best young player and one of the best in MLB and say why isn't X doing that? He might not live up to the early expectations, but the kid needs a very long leash.
billy ashley said Bogaerts is "insanely talented." I simply pointed out someone who is insanely talented and scarcely a year older. If you won the bat toss, which one would you choose?
The following lists are taken from Baseball America's All-Time Top 100 Prospects. I arbitrarily selected a range of years that offered the players time to make the majors and spend some time there and I also bolded those players I would pick as stars. Only two of the batters are lifetime .300 hitters and one in the .280s. Only two pitchers have broken the 100-win mark. If being in the top 10 in the all-time top 100 lists isn't guaranteeing stardom, why would being ranked number one in a team's system mean anything, either?
2005
1.
Joe Mauer, c, Twins .318/.400/.458, 1323 games played
2.
Felix Hernandez, rhp, Mariners 129-92, 3.05 ERA, 308 games played
3. Delmon Young, of, Devil Rays .284/.318/.424, 1081 games played
4. Ian Stewart, 3b, Rockies .229/.315/.415, 511 games played
5. Joel Guzman, ss, Dodgers .232/.306/.321, 24 games played
6. Casey Kotchman, 1b, Angels .260/.326/.385, 939 games played
7. Scott Kazmir, lhp, Devil Rays 93-79, 4.01 ERA, 246 games played
8. Rickie Weeks, 2b, Brewers .248/.346/.423, 1160 games played
9. Andy Marte, 3b, Braves .218/.276/.358, 307 games played
10.
Hanley Ramirez, ss, Red Sox .300/.372/.502, 1247 games played
2006
1. Delmon Young, of, Devil Rays .284/.318/.424, 1081 games played
2. Justin Upton, ss, Diamondbacks .275/.354/.479, 1059 games played
3. Brandon Wood, ss, Angels .186/.225/.289, 272 games played
4. Jeremy Hermida, of, Marlins .257/.334/.415, 632 games played
5. Stephen Drew, ss, Diamondbacks .255/.321/.424, 1043 games played
6. Francisco Liriano, lhp, Twins 77-73, 4.01 ERA, 228 games played
7. Chad Billingsley, rhp, Dodgers 81-61, 3.65 ERA, 219 games played
8.
Justin Verlander, rhp, Tigers 152-89, 3.53 ERA, 298 games played
9. Lastings Milledge, of, Mets .269/.328/.395, 433 games played
10. Matt Cain, rhp, Giants 95-95, 3.39 ERA, 281 games played
2007
1. Daisuke Matsuzaka, rhp, Red Sox 56-43, 4.45 ERA, 158 games played
2. Alex Gordon, 3b, Royals .268/.346/.435, 1054 games played
3. Delmon Young, of, Devil Rays .284/.318/.424, 1081 games played
4. Phil Hughes, rhp, Yankees 72-64, 4.33 ERA, 219 games played
5. Homer Bailey, rhp, Reds 58-51, 4.19 ERA, 168 games played
6. Cameron Maybin, of, Tigers .246/.309/.368, 579 games played
7. Evan Longoria, 3b, Devil Rays .271/.352/.492, 984 games played
8. Brandon Wood, ss, Angels .186/.225/.289, 272 games played
9. Justin Upton, of, Diamondbacks .275/.354/.479, 1059 games played
10. Andrew Miller, lhp, Tigers 30-38, 4.78 ERA, 271 games played
2008
1. Jay Bruce, of, Reds .250/.323/.466, 991 games played
2. Evan Longoria, 3b, Rays .271/.352/.492, 984 games played
3. Joba Chamberlain, rhp, Yankees 25-19, 3.78 ERA, 336 games played
4. Clay Buchholz, rhp, Red Sox 67-47, 3.97 ERA, 156 games played
5. Colby Rasmus, of, Cardinals .246/.314/.441, 816 games played
6. Cameron Maybin, of, Marlins .246/.309/.368, 579 games played
7.
Clayton Kershaw, lhp, Dodgers 99-51, 2.51 ERA, 216 games played
8. Franklin Morales, lhp, Rockies 21-27, 4.65 ERA, 244 games played
9. Homer Bailey, rhp, Reds 58-51, 4.19 ERA, 168 games played
10.
David Price, lhp, Rays 89-52, 3.20 ERA, 192 games played