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Are you ready for 2021? We are at The Cardinal Nation! Starting Monday, our 16th annual #stlcards Top 50 Prospect List countdown begins. I have a new partner this year, Matt Thompson @mdthompFWFB, who brings a wealth of scouting experience to our rankings. https://t.co/ZybInhA3xg pic.twitter.com/WsZU7fqu9N
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) October 30, 2020
Kicking off my favorite (non-playing) time of the year. The Cardinal Nation's 16th annual #stlcards Top 50 Prospect List, all new for 2021, begins today with our no. 50 prospect, IF Brendan Donovan. @mdthompFWFB joins me in writing these reports. (free) https://t.co/xu6KDGnJ27 pic.twitter.com/R63ThI5zJk
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) November 2, 2020
Interesting new approach. I do like it. I definitely miss when we all had the ability to see how guys were doing on a daily basis, as no one really has an idea how much progress anyone made over the summer. Hoping for 2021…
I am curious how he ends up ranked #50 since Brian had him at #46 and Matt at #49. How does that average to 50? Is there another component involved? Last year the community vote was the third component but I can understand if we don’t do that this time.
Also, I like the comparison to Edman.
On how the rankings are decided, the two individual rankings were simply averaged. Donovan’s average of 47.5 was 50th-best of the 65 players considered. (It also suggests our two lists are not identical, which is a good thing, IMO.)
On the community vote, it would have been great to include it again. But to be done in time to make the schedule, it has to start just after Labor Day and move ahead fairly briskly. This year, it seemed that everyone was waiting for someone else to step forward and lead the effort on behalf of the community. It is a lot of work.
Even though it will not be a part of the site rankings, you all could still conduct your own voting. Three months remain until spring training…
gscottar, I went back and doublechecked my spreadsheet and found I slightly messed up a few of the numbers when combining. The only impact is that tomorrow’s #49 really should have been no. 50 instead of Donovan, who should be #49. Too late to change now, but I am glad the discussion caused me to verify.
Looks like there’s a new deputy sheriff (Matt Thompson) in town, leaving our esteemed community on the outside looking in, as far as our annual community voting is concerned. Not allowing us to be at the very least, the “third component”, as Scotty phrases it, borders on the unconscionable. We do not want to do our own Top 50 Prospect List just for funzies. Our vote needs to count!
Thanks for the comments, Pugs, but Matt Thompson is filling the big shoes left by Derek Shore. That has nothing to do with the time problem with the community voting as I explained it. It has now begun on another thread, and I encourage you to participate.
Day 2 of The Cardinal Nation’s #stlcards Top 50 prospect countdown features Edgar Escobar at no. 49, an older Cuban reliever who despite no Double-A or Triple-A experience could be poised to make a major leap forward in 2021. ($) https://t.co/9qYic7kmKH pic.twitter.com/nVkeQFYOKj
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) November 3, 2020
Our daily #stlcards Top 50 prospect countdown has outfielder Conner Capel at no. 48. The LHH briefly reached Memphis in 2019 but was passed over for the Springfield alternate camp. Even so, OF opportunity remains if he can realize his power potential. ($) https://t.co/z2rqYGRAai pic.twitter.com/y6xKJCFlkC
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) November 4, 2020
I like this Matt Thompson fellow. Seems he’s got a good head on his shoulders. Ludwin the Magnificent is gonna be a good one.
Agreed. Matt’s work had caught my eye several years ago and we have some mutual friends. When I needed to replace Derek Shore in the ranking process, Matt was the first to come to mind. Especially in a year with no games, getting a fresh voice who personally scouts and regularly talks with scouts seemed ideal. I am obviously biased, but I really like the way the 2021 Top 50 is coming together.
The Cardinal Nation’s #stlcards Top 50 prospect countdown for 2021 continues with a left-handed pitcher who made a major step forward in 2018, but hasn’t yet regained that momentum since. Evan Kruczynski is ranked no. 46. ($) https://t.co/fc35r8GD8c pic.twitter.com/iHaHRBfqjh
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) November 6, 2020
The Cardinal Nation’s Top 50 prospect countdown for 2021 arrives at no. 45 with an IF who may be the best defender in the system. Evan Mendoza has increased his versatility and could work his way into the reserve infield derby for the #stlcards. (FREE) https://t.co/sHS5gxsRlA pic.twitter.com/X7guAZwTeQ
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) November 7, 2020
2021 individual rankings – Brian Walton #49, Matt Thompson #38.
Apparently Matt, like myself, seems to be higher on Kruczynski. Outside of Rondon I don’t see any other AA pitchers passing by Kruc. Its true that ’19 and of course ’20 didn’t do much to raise his stock however his ceiling is still there but like Brian pointed out he’ll need to giddyup with a couple of premier prospects likely to be on his heels very soon.
I cannot take exception to Matt’s assessment of Mendoza’s future probably being that of an up-and-down player. He simply lacks the power to be a big-league starter at either infield corner.
I’ve always liked Mendoza and he has shown spurts of hitting very well. Being an up and down hitter and lacking power doesn’t help his stock and probably are Matt’s concerns. His glove will keep him around but he needs to show more up than down at the plate to advance. Also, I don’t know if he will ever gain the power needed to take the next step.
Today's addition to TCN’s #stlcards Top 50 prospect countdown for 2021 is a RH control artist who dominated in 1H 2019 at Palm Beach, but ran into late troubles at Springfield without the opportunity to bounce back in 2020. Alex FaGalde is no. 43. ($) https://t.co/E6tjt88GGq pic.twitter.com/0puNVSpa1P
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) November 9, 2020
The Cardinal Nation’s #stlcards Top 50 prospect countdown for 2021 reaches #42 with Delvin Perez, a 1st-round SS who in 2019 had his best season since his rookie year, but still has a long way to go offensively and is running out of time to achieve it. ($) https://t.co/iU2ZowmCwX pic.twitter.com/kw3Rjj5CY8
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) November 10, 2020
The Cardinal Nation’s #stlcards Top 50 prospect countdown for 2021 reaches no. 41 with a corner IF who has picked up the OF while refining his power-potential swing. But does Juan Yepez have enough time ahead to make the majors with St. Louis? ($) https://t.co/unHAzikTEZ pic.twitter.com/X185HIjpbG
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) November 11, 2020
I really like this countdown and am thankful for it. But it has to be a difficult task given that 2020 was pretty much a year off for these kids. I have to think that if 2020 had been a normal season, Matt and Brian would be closer in their rankings.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
What little good news there is out of 2020 is that scouts were given access to alternate camp film, if their organization was willing to share theirs. So, pro scouts have been very busy breaking down video. But of course only a subset of players were in those camps.
I think it is good to have different points of view and that makes Matt Thompson’s addition for 2021 most timely and effective. In today’s case, the difference is perspective. Matt is looking at the player’s skills. I am looking at him as a potential major leaguer for the St. Louis Cardinals. Both are most relevant, but in this particular case, one may override the other.
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