Hard to get excited about Brown struggling for 1/2 a season and he will be 24 next month and doing just okay at AA. Seems like Brown gets a pass for his age/level.

Great write ups can't wait for the U.S. Is Taveras a top 10 prospect or is there just a little too much refinement that is still needed?

Kevin- Also, thanks for your efforts of writing up 40 some players, great work.

I am not trying for a comp but it seems like the "definition" of Buckel was also used for Tyler Skaggs when Skaggs was in Hi A.

Can Ryan Jackson be an everyday ss for the Cards or just an injury replacement, backup when everyone is healthy?

Odd to see Simmons as favorite for #1 prospect in 2013 when the fans are too excited about him in 2012.

Leonys Martin of the Rangers...same story as Brentz upper 30's on the midseason top 50 to out of the 101.

In 2012 will you go to Spring Training and the Arizona Fall League / instructs? I just can not understand why those are not absolute can't misses for you...at a minimum the AFL and instructs. I do understand budgets and time constraints that being said I know some of your followers make it all of them yearly. I could only assume you seeing more of these players in person and the fact by going you would/could gain even more contacts it can only help.

Was it Wil Myers strong AFL that launched him up to 19 from your ranking of 50 on your midseason top 50?

Your TX scouts must have had a bad 2011 seeing the drop in Martin Perez & Leonys Martin must have had eye opening disappointing July and Aug. You had him ranked 38th in your July top 50. I realize 17 drafted players are included in the top 100 but that is quite a drop from your July quote: "Has played fewer than 40 games as a pro, but has already showcased plus hitting skills, gap power, good wheels, an outstanding approach, and good defense. Could play a big role in a pennant race come September." From this quote I would think he would crack the top 100.

I can't remember such a nice list of prospects with so many of the key prospects being so far away.

Thanks, Matt that makes sense. There just isn't any perfect reasoning on the rankings. Jackson was 4 star pre-season 2011 & ranked 38th in the top 100...then he doesn't even make the mid-season top 50...striking out 27% of his total at bats in 2011 and jumps to 5 star. Why would he not be on the mid-season top 50 in July but still be upgraded to 5 star? Maybe the last two months at AAA were better reported by the scouts than the numbers look, and I guess the scouts didn't like the 1st 3 months of his season.

How has Vitters game changed from the 5 star ranking 12 months ago to a 3 star ranking today? It seems to me his 2011 season was a slight improvement (even defense) on his 2010 season. I do not disagree with the 3 star 2012 rating but how/why was he 5 star just 12 months ago?

I have a hard time with a player that in a perfect world is an above avg cf being 5 Stars. What is a cf that projects to be an all star "6 stars"? So Mike Trout and Brett Jackson will both be 5 star cf's, wow that is a pretty wide range for the 5 star category. I am thinking Jackson should be 4 stars.

So was Montero (ranked 8th in your top 50) and Martin Perez (ranked 13th) ranked too high on your list or is this just a case that if you talk to enough scouts someone will have something negative to say about nearly all of the prospects? Maybe it is the state of this crop of prospects but it seems in most years 2 top 13 prospects wouldn't be on this type of list.

KG Any chance of Josh Vitters to be on this type of list in 2012 or 2013? Thanks, Dennis

I feel bad for Szczur not even a Cubs prospect should be homeless for 31 games. "After going homeless in his first 31"

K Law reported from the AFL and stated Vitters has become a solid defender at third.

That is correct. It is common sense (lack of playing time)....but not everyone has that these days. I think KG stated scout not pro scouts. He did go 25th overall so I think there is some talent there.

No, you do not need to agree with Jim. Are you going to attend any AFL games or just get reports from others? I was there for the first week of games and you could obviously see the kid's timing is off. I am not a scout but I could only suggest it is from the lack of playing time and nothing to do with tools.

I can understand when BP readers over react (with too much excitement or disappointment) to a small sample size yet I can't understand publishing a scouts remarks after 19 ab's (in 11 games over a two week period) in the AFL for Cox. In addition to the lack of recent ab's he has had only 4 other games all summer.....I can only assume the guy is playing only every other day for the first time in his career (which is not easy to get used to). His teammates benefit from AFL player schedule of basically having every other day off since they have been playing non stop since Feb. I am a Cubs season ticket holder so I am not part of Cardinal Nation but lets give the full story..... BA's Callis just last week stated he was an "impact bat that will stay at 3B". Amazing how much can change after one weeks worth of ab's at the AFL.

I can't see the High Desert helping a singles hitter with 80 speed (although I do know some teams do not send their top pitching prospects to high desert). 80 speed (more like 80+ speed) wasn't created in the High Desert. I know he was as an exciting player as anyone at last years Futures Game. He has crazy speed and energy, sprinting on and off the field every chance he had. His speed is a game changer, making the pitchers alter their game and once on base messing with the infielders game as well.

He maded 80 million dollars in his career and didn't play in a meaningful game in over a decade. I believe even rejecting several last season trades to potential playoff teams. I am guessing he didn't reject the trades because of his perfect family life....seeing the recent stories. I am very surprised at the article. He (and his brother) seem to be perfect candidates for being for what is wrong with baseball the last 10 or so years.....