Is this the best system in baseball, in your opinion?

Also, while reading about Jemile Weeks, I couldn't help but think of Tony Phillips. Does that comparison seem applicable to you? If so... yikes.

I struggle with Ynoa at #1 and as a five-star. Given that he's only 17, has never played organized ball, or even set foot in the US, he's so far away from that who on Earth has any idea how this is going to turn out? Yes the A's are smart, and they felt strongly enough to write a big check, but the landscape is littered with bonus babies who never make the bigs. Add to that the fundamental notion of TINSTAAPP and I just don't see a rating this high.

If he gets to the US and puts up a 0.31 ERA and a 10/1 K/BB in 75 innings in the rookie league in 2009, then I'll buy it...

Where would Brett Hunter fall on this list?

Whither Fautino De los santos? a 5 star guy last year, but tommy john surgery was a big blow to his development.... what do you think of him now? still have hope?

How many of those power hitters in Stockton last summer will make it to Oakland and which are likely trade bait?

Kevin, I think this has been spoken to before, but is there any concern about Ynoa's being older than advertised? If we found out that, say, he was 20 instead of 17, how would that affect your assessment?

I just realized no one has mentioned Donaldson. This is a crazy deep system.

Has your love for Javier Herrera finally passed?

What do scouts say about Sulentic?

Kevin, can you elaborate on this: "Cahill faced 42 batters in the second inning at High-A Stockton last year and allowed just one hit."

Does that mean there was a combination of 38 walks, ROEs, and HBPs in one inning, assuming no double- or triple-play occurred?

5* for Chris Carter? Is the power so good (despite playing in the California League) that it overcomes his terrible .259 batting average?

Also, what is the major difference between Carter (5*) and Kyle Blanks (3*)? Is Blanks' body type so worrisome that it makes him a much worse prospect than Carter despite the fact that he's a better hitter?

I know A's are deep in outfielders / 1B, where does Matt Spencer fit in?

I don't think Ynoa shouldn't have a 5 star, I don't know enough about the kid (certainly don't have a BB conspiracy theory) I will say it is a bad bet to put money on 17 year old pitchers in general. So Westy does have that on his side, no matter how inarticulate.

In defense of westy21's opinion (but not the way he expresses it) I, too, have a problem with a definition of "prospect" that puts a 17-year-old pitcher whose age can't be verified with any degree of certainty at the top of a system as deep as Oakland's.

you do know its inoa and not ynoa, right?

If his name has changed, how well did they check his birth certificate or confirm his age?