By John Manuel
January 6, 2009

Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel. All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched (without regard to service time) are eligible. Ages are as of April 1, 2009.

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TOP TEN PROSPECTS

1. Dominic Brown, of 2. Carlos Carrasco, rhp 3. Lou Marson, c 4. Jason Donald, ss 5. Kyle Drabek, rhp 6. Michael Taylor, of 7. Travis D'Arnaud, c 8. Zach Collier, of 9. J.A. Happ, lhp 10. Jason Knapp, rhp

BEST TOOLS

Best Hitter for Average Dominic Brown Best Power Hitter Michael Taylor Best Strike-Zone Discipline Lou Marson Fastest Baserunner Quinton Berry Best Athlete Anthony Hewitt Best Fastball Carlos Carrasco Best Curveball Kyle Drabek Best Slider Mike Stutes Best Changeup Carlos Carrasco Best Control Mike Cisco Best Defensive Catcher Lou Marson Best Defensive Infielder Freddy Galvis Best Infield Arm Freddy Galvis Best Defensive Outfielder Anthony Gose Best Outfield Arm Dominic Brown

PROJECTED 2012 LINEUP

Catcher Lou Marson First Base Ryan Howard Second Base Chase Utley Third Base Jason Donald Shortstop Jimmy Rollins Left Field Michael Taylor Center Field Shane Victorino Right Field Dominic Brown No. 1 Starter Cole Hamels No. 2 Starter Carlos Carrasco No. 3 Starter Kyle Drabek No. 4 Starter Brett Myers No. 5 Starter Joe Blanton Closer Brad Lidge

TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2008 1999 Pat Burrell, 1b Phillies 2000 Pat Burrell, 1b/of Phillies 2001 Jimmy Rollins, ss Phillies 2002 Marlon Byrd, of Rangers 2003 Gavin Floyd, rhp White Sox 2004 Cole Hamels, lhp Phillies 2005 Ryan Howard, 1b Phillies 2006 Cole Hamels, lhp Phillies 2007 Carlos Carrasco, rhp Phillies 2008 Carlos Carrasco, rhp Phillies

TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2008 1999 Brett Myers, rhp Phillies 2000 Chase Utley, 2b Phillies 2001 Gavin Floyd, rhp White Sox 2002 Cole Hamels, lhp Phillies 2003 Tim Moss, 2b (3rd round) Out of baseball 2004 Greg Golson, of Phillies 2005 Mike Costanzo, 3b (2nd round) Orioles 2006 Kyle Drabek, rhp Phillies 2007 Joe Savery, lhp Phillies 2008 Anthony Hewitt, 3b/of Phillies

LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY

Gavin Floyd, 2001 $4,2000,000 Pat Burrell, 1998 $3,150,000 Brett Myers, 1999 $2,050,000 Cole Hamels, 2002 $2,000,000 Chase Utley, 2000 $1,780,000

PHILLIES LINKS

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For once, the sequel was actually better than the original.

In 2007, the Phillies trailed the Mets by seven games with 17 games to play but overtook New York on the final day of the season to complete the biggest late-season comeback in baseball history. But the Rockies swept Philadelphia in the Division Series, putting a quick end to the feel-good story.

Philadelphia learned from its demise and built on its successes in 2008, stunning the Mets with another September comeback before winning just the second World Series championship in the franchise's long, tortured history. The two championship teams have several similarities that link them in history, providing symmetry that's hard to ignore.

Both clubs built powerful offenses around the major league home run leader. No one's confusing Ryan Howard with Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt, yet Howard remains one of the game's most productive hitters after topping the majors with 48 homers and 146 RBIs. He had more help than Schmidt did, starting with Chase Utley and 2007 MVP Jimmy Rollins.

Lefthanded aces pitched at the front of both rotations. Cole Hamels fills the Steve Carlton role for his generation, with his changeup proving just as unhittable as Lefty's slider. Hamels' California cool was evident as he won the first game of all three postseason series.

Closer Tug McGraw provided the inspiration and the lasting visual images of the Phillies' 1980 title. While Brad Lidge, his 2008 counterpart, can't match McGraw as a quote, he matched him where it mattered, leading a bullpen that was baseball's best.

Philadelphia lost just three games in the postseason, one in each series. Perhaps most gratifying, the Phillies did it with a homegrown core. Rollins (1996), Burrell (1998), Brett Myers (1999), Utley (2000) and Hamels (2002) were first- or second-round picks made good. Howard (fifth round, 2001) and Ryan Madson (ninth, 1998) are also homegrown, the results of drafts orchestrated by Mike Arbuckle and Marti Wolever.

With extra picks in 2008, Wolever fashioned a draft class that could be the best of his tenure—though Hamels alone gives Wolever's first crop special currency. The Phillies gambled on high upsides, taking infielder Anthony Hewitt, outfielders Zach Collier and Anthony Gose, and righthander Jason Knapp with four of the first 71 selections. They also grabbed a promising haul of college pitchers led by third-rounder Vance Worley and 11th-rounder Mike Stutes.

Down on the farm, Triple-A Lehigh Valley and Double-A Reading finished with the worst records in their leagues, a sign that most of the franchise's minor league talent is collected at lower levels. With the big league team coming off consecutive playoff appearances, the Phillies can afford to be patient while prospects develop.

New general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., promoted from assistant GM when Pat Gillick retired after the World Series, inherits a championship club and a farm system with a growing number of high-ceiling talents. He didn't inherit Arbuckle, his fellow assistant GM who took a job with the Royals when he didn't get the GM gig, but other key members of the front office stayed in place.

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