Was having this argument with someone at work on who was the better player.

Both were highly touted prospect that have lived up to the hype.

Up until this season, I would say it was obviously Wright.  He had 4 straight 25+ homer, 100+ RBI, .900+ OPS seasons.  He also combined this with some pretty damn good D at 3rd (although maybe not totally deserving of the GGs).  However this season has not been very good for Wright .  His D at 3rd has been pretty bad, and his power seems to have vanished in the new park.  But he still has an OPS nearing .900 and on of the highest averages in the NL.  His base stealing also brings something to the table that Zimmerman can't.  On the downside, his  concussion is a little scary.

After a down 2007 (compared to what he did in 2006) and a injury plagued 2007, Zimmerman has been amazing this season.  His defense is truely gold glove and there isn't a player in the league I would rather have in the field at 3B.  His power and his average are up.  But his OPS won't come close to what Wright did in 2005-2008.

Does Zimmerman's D make him the better player?  Will Wright get back to 2008 form?

Which 3B will be better long term?

Wouldn't normally do this, but I can't decided whether or not to do this deal.

DMB keeper league

I get:  Aaron Hill and Buster Posey

I give: Yovani Gallardo

I already have Cano at 2B so i don't really need Hill, but Salty hasn't really worked out behind the plate, so I could use Posey.

I love Gallardo, but I have the pitching depth to move him.

Is Gallardo's potential as to be an ace to much to give up or should I do it?

On here we talk about prospects from the time they are 18 until they reach the majors.  Then after a month in the bigs, they become ancient history.

I think the Phil Hughes, Alex Gordons, and Clay Buchholz of the baseball world need there own thread.  They may not be still technically considered prospects, but they are the future of baseball and that is what this site is about.

So instead of having a bunch of threads, I say we put it all in one and have a nice discussion about our one time favorite prospects.  Are they on the right path?  Will they be stars?  Will they be bust?

Coming into the season David Price was by far the favorite, but he has had some struggles.

The #2 pitching prospect coming into the season, Tommy Hanson, has be amazing.

Brett Anderson started out really slow, but has turned it on the last month.

Rick Porcello has done great considering he is the youngest player in MLB.

There have also been a few surprises:  Happ, Neimann, Romero, Bergesen, Outman (before his injury), Randy Wells, Richmond, etc.

Long term who do you think the best pitcher from this years rookie class is?

Had a couple good seasons as a freshman and sophmore at UGA and then exploded last season.  As a junior he hit .411 with 28 homers and lead UGA to the CWS.  He jumped up the draft boards and was taken 8th overall.  After the draft he went on to post good numbers in his limited time in A ball (ending the season with 31 total homers).

Ranked #1 Prospect in CWS organization by BA, BP, John, and pretty much everyone else.

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/b/Gordon-Beckham.shtml

Improved across the board every year in college.  BA, SLG, OBP rose every year.  As a freshman he had a 27/58 K/BB.  Last season he improved that to 54/30.

Now the comminity rankings had him #47 and some individual list had him ranked pretty low.

My only question is what is there not to like about Gordon Beckham?  He has amazing potential, a great track record, and has improved drastically over the last 3 years.  He has a great chance to stay at SS, and even if he can't, he is the best 2B prospect in the game.

What are your opinions of Beckham?

Who do you think will be the best rookies in the AL and NL this season?

Likely AL candidates:

Price

Weiters

Snider

LaPorta?

Any other legit candidates?  Max Ramirez or Teagarden?  Will any of the top pitching prospects (Anderson, Cahill, Feliz) get an early call?  Do any 2008 draftees (Smoak, Beckham) get a midseason call and a make a run?

Likely NL candidates:

Maybin

Rasmus

Fowlers

Escobar?

McCutchen

Any other candidates?  No likely runaway candidate like Price and Weiters in the AL.  Can any 2008 draftees (Alvarez, Posey, Wallace) get a midseason call and make a run?

Almost all of the top 10's have been released (except San Diego and Los Angeles, but neither of those teams have any prospects that will sniff the top 20). 

 Judging by:

the team top 10's http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/organization-top-10-prospects/2009/

 and the ask BA were Callis ranked his NL top 10 http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/ask-ba/2009/267429.html and AL top 10 http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/ask-ba/2008/267360.html

 and the BA mideason to 25 http://www.minorleagueball.com/2008/7/11/569816/baseball-america-midseason

 What do you think the top BA top 20 will look like?

 My Guess:

1. Price

2. Weiters

3. Bumgarner

4. Alvarez

5. Rasmus

6. Brett Anderson

7. Cahill

8. Snider

9. Maybin

10. Feliz

11. Posey

12. Hanson

13. Heyward

14. Tillman

15. Fowler

16. McCutchen

17. Porcello

18. Moustakas

19. Lars Anderson

20. Alderson

 Thought that would be easier, but after two it could go many ways.  Callis' top 10's goes a bit out of order from the team top 10s.  The midseason top 25 is what really made it confusing.  Some very big jumps.  LaPorta was at 7, but now ranks behind Santana?  I don't see Sanatan as a top 20 prospect, so where does that put LaPorta?  Callis also has Alvarez as his #3 overall prospect?  Does he really deserve to be this high? 

 Did I miss anybody?  Trying to predict that really messed with my head more than I had thought.

Coming out of college he was a can't miss 3B.  He then went on to back that up in the minors, putting up great numbers, and was widely considered the best prospect in baseball. 

His first two years have been some what of a disappointment.  Not bad for a 23-24 year old in the majors, but not what you would expect from the best prospect in baseball. 

While many other prospects have shown flashes of greatness (Longoria, Bruce, Upton), Gordon hasn't yet at the major league level.  He did however improve in his second year (average, power, and walks went up).  But he has not performed nearly as good as most people thought.

Is this the year Gordon puts it all together?

Were would he rank on your top 50?

He is not a great defender and his position is still not known.  Most say there is no chance he can play at 3B.  He could probably stick at 1B, but many think he will end up a DH.  Either way, he will never be a great defensive player.

With the bat, he looks like a future star.  He showed amazing power in his time in the minors and half a season in the majors.  He is almost a guarantee to hit 30+ homers a year and could even push 40 or 50+.  The only question mark he has is plate discipline (88/20 SO/BB).  Can he cut down on the strikeouts?

Ignoring contract status.

How much do you think a prospect is worth?  If you were a GM what would it take for you to deal your #1 prospect?

Price and Weiters are obviously the best prospects in baseball.  How much would they net in return?   Would you not let them go for anything?  Would you move them for ARod?  How about for a young already proven all star like David Wright?

What would you want for a top 10 prospect like Travis Snider or Jason Heyward? A top 20?   A top 50?