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Poll: Biggest Weakness In The Farm System?

by Poll
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So I have a question here for you all.

 

What is the biggest weakness in the farm system? Make up to 3 selections and please, feel free to comment. I’m doing this because I legitimately want to know what people believe to be the weakest part of the farm system.

 

What is the biggest weakness in the Mariners farm system?

  • Catcher (65%, 72 Votes)
  • Starting Pitching (29%, 32 Votes)
  • Third Base (25%, 28 Votes)
  • Center Field (13%, 14 Votes)
  • Left Field (12%, 13 Votes)
  • Shortstop (8%, 9 Votes)
  • First Base (5%, 5 Votes)
  • Relief Pitching (4%, 4 Votes)
  • Second Base (2%, 2 Votes)
  • Right Field (2%, 2 Votes)

Total Voters: 110

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Comments
  • http://www.marinercentral.com Lonnie

    Nice question, and I’m sure that it will generate more than a little debate.

    If I could have, I would have voted “starting pitching” three times. While there are shortages in other areas, if you don’t have quality starting pitching then all else is moot.

    The question you asked was “weakness”, which I believe is a matter of perception. To me, weakness means depth and breadth of talent at a given position. Looking at the state of the starting pitching we have depth in terms of warm bodies, not in talent. The Mariners have zero breadth at this point in time (multiple guys vying for a MLB job) We do not have a pitcher who is close to competing for a starting job on the MLB roster, which to me is the prime indicator of system health. The nearest guy who has the ability to actually compete for a job as a starting pitcher at the MLB level is Kenn Kasparek, and he needs at least a year still before that can be realized.

    The second biggest weakness to me, and apparently to a lot of folks, is the catcher position. Again, in terms of depth and breadth, the Mariners system falls woefully short. The interesting talent is way down in the lower end of the minor leagues, and no one is a lock with an eye for the future. The best talent we have for catcher, IMHO, is Gi-Man Choi, and he has yet to see any action in 2011. The word that I’ve got is that he wasn’t 100% even during spring training and is staying in Peoria for extended ST and has Roger Hanson working with him big time. Hanson has been splitting his time between Peoria and Clinton where he has been working with Steve Baron.

    My final choice was Centerfield. I picked that because it is a specialty position and we really don’t have any standout talent anywhere in the system. We have a very small handful of “interesting” players who are roaming CF at the various levels of the minor league system, but no standouts to speak of.

    Lonnie

    • Harrison Crow

      Sorry Lonnie totally missed your comment.

      You do realize that out of the “Top 100″ prospects about 26 of them are starting pitchers. Yes, you can point to Kenn Kasparek and say that’s our depth but there isn’t anything (short of the first round) that’s going to immediately change that depth.

      We have a nice assortment of potential #3 guys and a few #2′s in the system too. While they are sprinkled about they are there and they are coming.

      I 100% anticipated the response with catcher and actually I’m kind of concerned that we have 58 voters and only 42 thought that catcher was a weakness. I expect it to be above 80% and close to 90%.

      I am preparing something for the coming weeks about what to do with the 2nd and 3rd round pick. But I’m tipping my hand a bit…more coming.

      • http://www.marinercentral.com Lonnie

        When I look at the system, and a particular position in particular, like I stated above, I look at it in terms of depth and breadth.

        I have little to no faith in the vast majority of pitching “prospects” in our system to be more than #5′s, or relievers at the MLB level. I realize that that is awfully judgmental on my part, but I calls ‘em likes I sees ‘em.

        Perhaps we need to do another SodoCast so that I can educate you?

        ;)

        Lonnie

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