SI.com reports: In its semi-annual rankings of the 30 major-league farm systems, Baseball America rates both the Cubs and White Sox in the lower half (the Cubs 18th, the Sox 25th). The Rangers' system was judged to be the best and the Astros' was rated the worst.
Get the full story: SI.com
Get the full story: SI.com
Meaningless stuff, the Sox would be much, much higher if they hadn't traded for Peavy. I don't know why anyone puts stock in these rankings, the Sox were supposed to have the number one farm system in 2000 and we see what happened there. I'd rather have our rotation than a great farm system.
Over 80 scouts and 45 baseball writers from baseball America contribute to the minor league ranking twice per year, that's why they are considered to be the most reliable guides out there.
One person writes the article.
The ranking in Baseball America was done by one writer, John Manual. If you believe he is so good as a talent evaluator why isn't he still a GM.
Casey,
Here is a direct quote from the SI story before the "summary:"
"Rather than rank the remaining 20 teams, where it's really splitting hairs, I've listed them alphabetically in two categories"
This story is wrong - the baseball america "rankings" were put up on cnnsi.com - the top and bottom 5 were revealed, but you will need to get a subscription to the service to find out the middle 20 rankings. The remaining 20 were put in alphabetical order, in two separate categories "best of the rest (6-15)" and "worst of the rest (16-25)"
Cubs & White Sox both were in worst of the rest:
Angels ("16"), Athletics ("17"), Cubs ("18"), 6 more teams alphabetical, (19-24), White Sox ("25)
Horrible news blip - DO YOUR JOB!!
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/baseball/mlb/12/01/farm.systems/index.html