You see where I’m going with this, of course. Prospecting is inherently a volatile business. Yes, the farm systems of the Rangers and Angels impress me at the moment. The Rangers did a great job restocking when they traded Texeira and the Angels continue to draft well, but I think in the overall scheme of things, I’m more scared of the Angels being able to absorb mistakes like signing Matthews Jr. than I am their vaunted farm system because so many things can happen to change that dynamic. Check out the projected lineups from BA from years ago, because hindsight can make these hilarious.

The M’s don’t have a farm system on the level of the Angels and Rangers. They may not need to.

I have a similar impression of Zduriencik’s build from within long-term plans. That [RAISES] the question then, is there a good enough core of talent currently on the Mariners and in the high-minors to make legitimate post-season runs barring any more major acquisitions?

In other words, are Felix, Gutierrez, Ichiro, Ackley, Lopez, Moore, Aardsma and a the other complimentary players good enough to fight off the Angels and Rangers?

Looking at that group I feel that the Mariners could field a very respectable team, but nothing that would give them a clear edge or advantage over the Angels and Rangers.

Certainly the Mariners could acquire some talent through free-agency or trades, but it’s not like the Mariners have an abundance of payroll space or minor-leaguers to trade in the next couple of years.

I know Dave already made the argument that the 2010 Mariners could be contenders, but 88-90 wins may just be good enough for 2nd or 3rd place in this quickly improving division.

Do the Mariners have enough bullets left after all this years trades, to go out and get 2 more 2.5 War and greater players? IE, do we have enough Talent down their to go get another Beltre/ and or Guti?

This is a hunch of mine, but I think that Zduriencik’s model is going to trend towards a younger core developed internally, smart bargain buys as supplemental players (Hall, Branyan, et all), and the rare hired gun that budget allows for. There is some talent left down there that could be used to acquire a good player via trade, but I think that we’re getting to the point of narrowing down future contributors internally and trying to give them their fair shot.

Assuming Truinfel repeats AA next year (due to lack of playing time this year with injury), do you see them moving Truinfel to 2B or leaving him at SS until he can’t handle it anymore? I’m seeing an infield of Poythress at 1B, Truinfel 2B, Juan Diaz SS, and Liddi 3B. These guys could be fun to watch not to mention Robles and Pineda anchoring a rotation.

The old FO probably would have left Triunfel at shortstop a little longer, but we’ve seen the emphasis on defense that Zduriencik et all have adopted and so I think that Triunfel is moving to second. He may have a transition year or two like Jose Lopez did where he’s playing every position left of first base on a regular basis, I just think that he’ll end up at second eventually. It’s a waste of his arm, but keeps the bat at a better position. That double-A infield looks reasonable, I’d tack Dunigan onto the 1B/OF/DH duties there and throw in Colina and Bonilla as utility infielders, Scott behind the plate. Whether Pineda and Robles are there to start the year or not, it’s going to be a neat team.

Players like Nick Franklin, who was signed too late to play much and, as a second strike, had the ranking “misfortune” of splitting his time between levels, are almost always ignored.

I understand things have been turned around under Zduriencik, but that just means our system could be good in two to four years.

I’m impatient, but looking at how stacked the Rangers and Angels are, can you blame me?

Certainly Ackley, Triunfel, and to some extent J.C. Ramirez, Pineda, Aumont and Poythress have major league potential, but beyond that it feels like the M’s organization is heavy on 4th and 5th starters and defense-first outfielders and little else.