Posted by a_ersberg on 4/17/2012 11:48:00 AM (view original):
I wouldn't say minor league stats are completely meaningless.  Keep in mind your park factors when gauging prospects too. 

You don't have to say it.  I will.

At best, if you judge them against your prospects, you can possibly uncover a gem that you don't understand.   If a player is running thru your minors and always leading your team over similar, but better in your opinion, prospects, there might be something there.   But if a guy is 300/400/500 on a team full of 300/400/500 players, there's nothing to see.

At worst, you get inflated stats because much of your world has try out camp players going 144.  They mean nothing.

i think minor league stats work pretty much the same way they do in real life...they have the potential to give you useful information, but they are not the end all be all and scouting (or ratings here) is at least as important....that being said, without having the proper context, they are meaningless...a couple of things to keep in mind when looking at minor league stats: park effects, competition (if you are always facing 0(0) pitchers, stats will be even more inflated), experience vs level (19 yo with 1 year of experience dominating HiA = potentially meaningful, 25 yo with 3 years experience dominating HiA = meaningless)

also, as others have pointed out, you have to know what dominating is and isn't...even for a 19 yo in HiA with tough competition and a neutral park, a .300/.400/.500 slash line usually does not equal dominating for a 1B/DH/COF type player

Here's a player who is very similar to Armas.  http://www.whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=3094859.  ML cogs where you could do worse.

As for minor league stats...

Keep in mind, there are too many managers using minor league filler rather than level appropriate talent to gauge stats.  Additionally, if 1-2 managers from your league arent maintaining their minors, your guy could inflate his stats against worn out pitchers.