And, the top 2

2.) The Team Formerly Known as AC’s Gun Show (37.0 / 4.63 / 34.2) – Grade = 68.5

Martin Perez – 14 / 16

Jeremy Hellickson – 18 / 21

Jhoulys Chacin – 23 / 29

Hector Rondon – 27 / 36

Christian Friedrich – 28 / 37

Tyler Flowers – 42 / 66

Under a different name the Team Formerly Known as AC’s Gun Show (§) is back where they were a few short years ago with a team comprised of a good collection of young MLB talent and top prospects. Can they blow it again or will their new team name (§) be the only thing that blows? Only time will tell. Martin Perez is this rounds Tim Lincecum. He stormed onto the scene last year dominating A ball and holding his own in AA as a 19 year old. Perez is a combo of Maddux and Santana with a bigger dick than both combined and could be the top SP prospect in baseball next year, all of which make Breig quite happy. Hellickson we’ll talk about below. Rondon might not have the upside of other prospects but like Chisenhall he seems to be a good bet to be a solid pro. He has good control and is able to work through games when he doesn’t have his best stuff, a trait few his age have. Friedrich is one of three (and potentially four depending on what you think of Esmil Rodgers) Rockies pitching prospects in the top 100 of major league baseball. He has 4 solid pitches he can throw for strikes and has eaten the minors up to the tune of a 12.0 K/9. Flowers bat is on par with the likes of Carlos Santana but unlike Santana few think he’ll be able to stick at catcher. Unlike Jesus Montero his bat isn’t quite elite enough to keep his value where it would be at catcher at other positions.

Prospect Profile – Jeremy Hellickson

Pros – Plus change-up and curveball, excellent control and potentially excellent command, MLB ready

Cons – Lack of great fastball, is he a product of stuff or his ability to get minor leaguers out with his great command?, pitches in the AL East, bad nickname

1.) Bashful Satanists (26.0 / 8.67 / 15.0) – Grade = 79.0

Buster Posey – 3 / 4

Brett Wallace – 17 / 19

Casey Kelly – 19 / 22

And last but certainly not least, coming in at #1 is Sal’s favorites the Bashful Satanists. I suppose it’s somewhat fitting that their two teams make-up the opposite end of our prospect sandwich. It’s been mentioned before but if you want a model on how to build an expansion team, look at what the Satanists have done. After being painstakingly close to the playoffs in 2008 they finally broke through last year and the future looks bright with three top prospects waiting in the wings, two of which should get MLB time this year. Buster Posey’s main drawback is that he’s a Giant and therefore he plays under one of the most inept GM’s in the game, Brian Sabean. Posey looks to be similar to the good version of Russell Martin and proved his worth in the minors yet the Giants inexplicably resigned and handed the starting job to Bengie Molina. Like Carlo on the late bus, Wallace has been around the block in his short major league career. Traded first to Oakland for Matt Holliday and then to Toronto for Michael Taylor. His unusually wide legs have forced him to move to 1B but his bat is good enough to still play there. He might not garner the power of an elite 1B but there’s always room for a .300+ hitter with 20-25 homeruns. Kelly we’ll look at below.

Prospect Profile – Casey Kelly

Pros – Terrific athlete who played half of last season at SP and half at SS, exceptional command, quality fastball, change-up and curveball

Cons – Still far away from the majors, needs to improve one or more pitches to become elite, average velocity