Dodgers Matt Kemp, James Loney among top young players

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For the second consecutive year, Bill James’ invaluable book for baseball fans, ‘The Bill James Handbook 2009,’ has a chapter called ‘Young Talent Inventory.’’

Ranking teams based on their under-30 talent, James ranks the Angels 11th and the Dodgers 13th.

But the Angels have only one player ranked among James’ top 25 -- 26-year-old Frankie Rodriguez in the eighth position. And he might not be with the team next season.

The Dodgers have Matt Kemp, 23, at seventh and James Loney, 24, at 20th.

James says the only true breakout star this season was Tampa Bay’s Evan Longoria.

-- Randy Harvey