Our system is horrible, although it has been a lot more productive over the Dombrowski years than one might think, either in producing useful players or trade chips. A lot rides on Castellanos bouncing back in AA and Garcia developing more power. I like Jake Thompson, too.

The system is very thin but they have traded most of their erstwhile top prospects for the likes of Fister, Sanchez and Infante while in the win now mode. Turner, Martinez, Ruffin and Brantly would all have been on this list. Dombrowski has shown a pretty good ability to unload uber prospects who don't turn out so hot for big league talent. (Humberto Sanchez for Sheffield, Maybin/Miller for Cabrera, etc) Even his biggest blunder, Jurrjens for a washed up Renteria, turned out to be a Jurrjens who flamed out after a year and a half. So they will likely re-load in the draft and trade their top chips as they get close. Castellanos could be very good but he is yet to show any power or plate discipline. Ditto A. Garcia. Rondon could be very good but his fastball is straight, he still walks a bunch of guys, his command is dicey, he has trouble repeating his delivery. Closer this year? Not. I like Schotts and Collins although both profile as 4th OF/bench guys. Think more Andy Dirks or Clete Thomas. The lower half of that list is mostly filler. Vasquez has raw talent but is light years away.

The win now mode continues and as much as DD professes otherwise I would not be surprised to see Castellanos, Garcia and/or Rondon gone by July for some combination of a SS, another SP and a monster bullpen arm. Or yet another OF who can mash.

I like Thompson, too, Walewander, but the guy I'm really going to be watching is Schotts. Joining pro ball at such a young age and being asked to switch positions (from SS to CF), I expected him to fall flat on his face. Instead, he puts up a .310/.360/.449 line with 16 SB's in only 49 games. He ended the season by playing two game in Lakeland; it'll be interesting if he gets assigned there this year. I think that's pretty aggressive for a 19 year old, but if he can do it and succeed, you'll be hearing a lot about this kid.

I'll be following Schotts as well. I bet he does start at Lakeland - the Tigers are aggressive to a fault with the kids, as Porcello, Turner, Daniel Fields, etc. can all attest.