One uninspiring view of the Dodgers' next crop of young players

The next wave of young players to have a potential impact on the Dodgers isn’t impressing USA Today.

In USA Today Sports Weekly’s annual baseball ranking of the 100 Names You Need to Know for the coming season, only two Dodgers appear and none until No.71.

The list doesn’t necessarily represent the best prospects, but focuses on young players who spent more time last year in the minors and who could have the most impact in the majors this season.

Rangers’ right-hander Neftali Feliz was ranked No.1. The 21-year-old had a 1.74 ERA last year for Texas in 20 relief appearances and is a candidate for the Rangers rotation this spring.

But the publication doesn't exactly see another core like Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, James Loney, Russell Martin, Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley and Jonathan Broxton on the Dodgers' horizon.

Dodgers left-hander Scott Elbert was ranked No.71 and listed as a candidate to secure the team’s fifth spot in the rotation.

USA Today hasn’t given up on shortstop Chin-lung Hu, which it lists two spots lower at No.73. It does note, however, that ``his window of opportunity to seize an everyday job seems to be closing.’’

-- Steve Dilbeck

Comments

[Ronnie]

Chin Lung Hu should have been traded a long time ago.

[68elcamino427]

Who will be the new outfielder(s) next year?
Next year Manny is gone.
Who will be the next power bat?

[Buddha]

Live in the NOW, 427!

[oldbrooklynfan]

I agree with the assessment of Hu, It's now or never, if he's ever going to make it with the Dodgers. I still don't know enough about Elbert to make a comment on him, but I like the reports I'm getting.
Maybe it's best not to have too many good prospects coming along right now.
Ethier, Kemp , Martin, Loney, Billingsley, Kershaw and Broxton have enough to worry about.

[L.R]

Why haven't the Dodgers traded Chin Lung Hu ?He should of been traded away .Before the rest of MLB could notice that this guy can't hit.

[OhioVic]

The good news is the Dodgers have done a nice job drafting and developing the young core that arrived at the big league level the last 3 years. The bad news is that the pipeline is pretty empty (though not completely) behind them. So, unless they plan to spend significantly on free agents (and ther's no evidence of that) they may have difficulty being real competitive at some point down the road.

So, enjoy it while we can, I guess.

[Craig88USC]

Hu?

[artieboy]

Regardless of whether that represents the efforts of the current owner(s) to save $, in the end that does not bode well for our team's future.

I'm pulling for Elbert to get the 5th spot. Two lefties in the rotation are better than one.

[bob cuomo]

Wow, the Dodgers don't have anyone rated higher than 71...that's amazing. In Baseball America's 2009 organization talent rankings, the Dodgers were 23rd. It's sad, considering that they used to be one of the top organizations.

[rolie]

Maybe should have gotten draft pick compensation from other teams signing Hudson and Wolf. Why didn't Dodger's offer arbitration? Was management that cheap? Or do they know something we don't? If those two have decent years, then I'll be pissed.

[Temecula]

If you don't have talent, you don't have to pay for talent. Same reasoning for dumping draft picks. Why pay for a draft pick when more than likely the draft picks will not play in the majors. However, if the Dodgers remain on this path, they will inevitably will decline and with nothing to replace the talent...hello Pirates.

[Ronnie]

This is Manny's last year with the Dodgers so I fully expect to have little Manny aka Belliard in the lineup with him everyday.

So foolish how the Dodgers jumped the gun and decided Jamey freakin' Carroll deserved a 2 year deal at that price.

I will never understand it.

[Killa_cam]

Wow really guys the pipeline is empty this is funny. The reason why baseball america rated the system is because they put more stock in guys in AA and above. The main dodger prospects were in low and high A last year. Dodgers target point is AA. Calm down guys the next wave is sure to come. It wont have the bats but is loaded with arms. If you knew anything about the system you would know that the next wave would be Martin,Miller, Withrow,Eovaldi,Gordon,Russell,Baez. Look the wave left the farm a little empty but the last two drafts have replenished the system. Manny is a supreme talent and guys like that are hard to find. Lambo/Paul will probably replace Manny but dont expect the major pop.