Baseball America's John Manuel ranks the best and worst farm systems in baseball.
Top five, in order? Rangers, Rays, Giants, Phillies, Indians
Bottom five, in order? Nationals, Diamondbacks, Blue Jays, Cardinals, and...yep.
Houston has added solid talent in its last two first-rounders, catcher Jason Castro (2008) and Jiovanni Mier (2009), as well as '08 supplemental pick Jordan Lyles, a promising right-hander. But the Astros' system is full of holes -- it hasn't produced a team with a winning record since 2007.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
