Down On The Farm: Prospect Chat With ESPN's Keith Law

If there is one prospect expert to read, for me, it is ESPN's Keith Law. I have been following his chats and rankings for several years now, and he is definitely the guy to read for fantasy owners. Here are some excerpts from Thursday's chat at ESPN:

David (Tempe)

Nick Franklin or Manny Machado?

Klaw

  (1:22 PM)

Machado.

Manny Machado was the 2nd over pick in the 2010 MLB draft, and that is saying something, as Franklin has posted excellent numbers in 2010.

Ed (San Diego)

Jaff Decker and James Darnell have really picked up their play in the second half, do you think they're okay going forward?

Klaw

  (1:27 PM)

Decker > Darnell for me, but yes, both prospects in a slightly thin system.

Decker should start the 2011 season at AA San Antonio, and could get a cup of coffee next September. I am curious where Law ranks him this year, as he ranked him, by far, much higher than the other prospect experts.

Jordan (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada)

Thoughts on some columnists saying Manny Ramirez doesn't belong in the hall of fame? Seems a little ridiculous to me.

Klaw

  (1:34 PM)

I'd vote for him without reservations.

Not a prospect question, but I had to include it to balance all the negative pub Manny took last weekend. 

Corey (Missouri)

What is the ceiling for Zach Cox? When can we expecting to see him full time in the bigs? 2013?

Klaw

  (1:44 PM)

I wouldn't be shocked to see him in the majors in the first half of 2011.

Wow. Forget what I said over at Fake Teams about taking Julio Teheran in the UBA league minor league draft.

Jason (Santee, Ca)

Luebke or LeBlanc?

Klaw

  (2:10 PM)

Luebke, 1000 times over.

I wish I would have known this two days ago when I had the opportunity to pick up Padres pitching prospect Cory Luebke. Instead, I picked up Brewers reliever Jeremy Jeffress in the UBA keeper league, with the thought that he may close in 2011.