Enjoyed the list, Jason. Glad to see the Pads' system hasn't fallen off from top-5 level after last year's rankings, but it still seems like quantity over quality, which you alluded to in your answer about the value of set-up/second-division guys. But it's tough to reach critical mass and get in to the playoffs without a few genuine studs, and that's why I loved the Fried/Eflin/Weickel picks in this year's draft. I didn't like the Jankowski pick as much, but what are your thoughts?

This is amazing.

I didn't even realize people out there had turned on Castro. He's young. He hits .300. He's a shortstop. He's under control for 4 more years. He's one of the few players on the roster that will be part of the next competitive team in Chicago. It's weird that it's even necessary to defend him...

Most overhyped/underwhelming events I can remember: 1. Star Wars: Episode I 2. Sean Burroughs 3. The Matrix II+III Please write about one of them.

"Now that the Astros seem to be playing closer to their true talent I can start dreaming about them having 1.1 or 1.2 next year!" Not if the Padres have anything to say about it!

How do Austin Hedges and Stassi compare?

This was excellent.

Loved the article, Kevin. The combination of daily Minor League Updates and periodic deeper pieces like this make BP worth paying for.

Both Darnell and Gyorko are showing some good pop so far, but what kind of power do they project to have in the big leagues? Are either capable of hitting 20hr?

Seems like the Padres have tons of hitting prospects who are having great starts to the season (Rizzo, Decker, Gyorko, Darnell, Rincon) but they all seem to be playing in offense-inflated environments (Lake Elsinore, San Antonio, Tucson)... To what extent do think these guys are for real, and to what extent are they products of their park/league?

I second #(2). PLEASE improve this aspect of the site; it's incredibly frustrating to try to accomplish what should be a simple task.

"Oh, and can we have 3 Future Shock Top 10's this week? Please?" Seconded. These (and other Futureshock columns) are the main reason I come to BP. Joe leaving? CK writing more? Whatever. Just keep the KG coming.

The Brewers did look around - they tried to obtain one of the Pirates good arms for Hardy, but they were turned down. We only know of that one instance, but it's likely they talked up other teams looking for young arms and determined that nobody was willing to give up a pitcher of sufficient value. Is it that hard to believe that enough GMs are afraid that Hardy's decline is real and lasting, and afraid of being liable for 10M over 2 years if he continues to struggle, that they don't want to take the risk of dealing a young, controllable arm for Hardy in a down economy with tighter payrolls?

I've seen that Robinson Cano cleared waivers; how can this be? Surely there are plenty of teams that would want a 2B posting a .310/.346/.495 line while entering the prime of his career - and his contract isn't bad at all ($9m 2010, $10m 2011, $12m net option 2012, $13m net option 2013). Even if most teams figured they wouldn't be able to work out a trade with the Yankees and that he would just be pulled back, it seems worth it to at least deny NY the option of trading him when there is no cost to your team - who knows what *might* happen that could allow the Yanks the opportunity to improve by trading Cano down the line?

I think this whole ordeal has revealed how most fans truly feel about PEDs. Bonds and Arod were widely disliked even before they were caught cheating. Manny is likable and hugely popular. It looks like PEDs are not the real issue, but rather who is using them.

All the coverage I have seen has been saying the Padres are not high on Ackley. If by some miracle Seattle passes on him, what reason could the Padres possibly have for passing on a CF with a polished bat? I know the post-TJ arm is a concern, but everything I've read indicates that most teams think it'll be fine.

There is no pressure to trade Gonzalez now. I agree that he should be traded soon to build for 2011+, but given his great numbers and extremely low price, there will be lots of teams in on him. Why not wait until an offer blows you away sometime over the next 3 years? Peavy is eating up significant money every day he's still on the team, so I understand the impetus to trade him sooner rather than later. But with Gonzalez, the Padres can afford to wait.

Sorry dude, the Padres weren\'t ever planning on moving Adrian. Towers has been clear about that fromt he beginning of this offseason. Adrian is extremely cheap and our only legitimate threat in the lineup. He also plays great defense and has a strong following among fans as he is a local boy. Besides, Adam Lind is nowhere near good enough to land him. We may be a bad team in rebuilding mode, but we won\'t be playing Santa Claus for the Jays this year.

I completely agree about reverse alphabetical order. Last year it went through the AL in alphabetical order and then the NL in order; let\'s see the opposite this year. Why shouldn\'t the teams that came at the end last year get to go first this time?