The FutureBacks Fifty: Orientation

It just wouldn't be fair. If we just dropped it and ran, just gave you the information with no idea how to use it. So here you go, a quick breakdown of what you need to know and why. The FutureBacks Fifty begins today, here's how we did it, and what you need to know.

The list will be disclosed in five segments starting on Monday December 21st.  Every Monday we will publish ten rankings starting at No. 50 and ending with No. 1. We will offer a little blurb on each player once we release the rankings, however, the gravy will be after the entire list has been unveiled.  FutureBacks.com will be following the release of the prospect list with an individual scouting report on every player on the list, after talking with minor league coaches and baseball scouts to gaze their input on the player. The Individual Scouting Report will also include quotes from the players, scouts, front office personnel and coaches.

Disagree?  Have questions we haven't answered?  Never fear.  We'll also start a regular question and answer session, which will begin on Saturday December 3rd, where you'll be able to send your questions and complaints about the list, and we'll defend ourselves.

How was the list compiled?   First and foremost, we've seen them all.  The experts at FutureBacks.com dropped some mad coin on travel expenses, and this is where it went.  Next, we consulted scouting directors, minor league coaches, and two MLB scouts, and all of their opinions were factored in.  We fed it all into a precise formula (the same one that the BCS uses) and the end result is the FutureBacks Fifty.  It was a full year in the making, it took two months to compile, and it will take two more to release.

Who is eligible for the list?  Anyone who qualifies for the MLB Rookie of the Year award.

What did FutureBacks look for when making the list?   The list is based on a players’ overall potential to have a successful career in the major leagues, and his overall potential as a baseball player.  Are they stars to be?  Role players?  Bench contributers?  Will they make the bigs at all?

The Top 50 prospects in the Diamondbacks system.  In year two of the FutureBacks Fifty the first question has to be...how'd we do last year? 

The answer is, not too bad.  Eleven of our 50 prospects played in the bigs last year, 10 of them with the D'Backs.  The next question would likely be, 'How much is it really going to change?'

A whole bunch.  New faces, rising and falling stocks, injuries, position changes, setbacks, steps forward.  This list could literally change month to month if we wanted it to. 

And we want to hear from you.  Each week we'll have our question and answer section on the front page, but for a little more immediate reaction, read, enjoy, and then head to our Message Boards and discuss.  We get a lot right, we miss a couple, and you get to decide.  In fact, here's a primer for you.  This is last years FutureBacks Fifty, #1-#50.5.  Take a look, and compare.  The 2005 FutureBacks Fifty is on the way.

2004 Top 50

1)  Carlos Quentin	18)  Chris Carter	35)  Jaime D'Antona
2)  Conor Jackson	19)  Justin Wechsler	36)  Steve Garrabrants
3)  Sergio Santos	20)  Carlos Gonzales	37)  Jesus Cota
4)  Greg Aquino	21)  Garrett Mock	38)  Brian Barden
5)  Josh Kroeger	22)  Alex Frazier	39)  Enmanual Duran
6) Tony Pena	23)  Dioneer Navarro	40)  Jay Garthwaite
7)  Jon Zeringue	24)  Clint Goocher	41)  Phil Avlas
8)  Enrique Gonzalez	25)  Danny Muegge	42)  Jared Doyle
9)  Marland Williams	26)  Matt Chico	43)  Jerry Gil
10)  Jason Bulger	27)  Koyie Hill	44)  Adam Bass
11)  Dustin Nippert	28)  Jarred Ball	45)  Alexander Cremidan
12)  Michael Gosling	29)  Kyle Nichols	46)  Sergio Lizzaraga
13)  Bill Murphy	30)  Phil Stockman	47)  Erik Schindewolf
14)  A. J. Shappi	31)  Jered Liebeck	48)  Chris Snyder
15)  Corey Myers	32)  Tim Vaillancourt	49)  Orlando Mercado
16)  Edgar Gonzalez	33)  Mike Schultz	50)  Noochie Varner
17)  Brian Bruney	34)  Reggie Abercrombie	50.5)  Stephen Drew