Or “production” here. For straight potential, scouts looks the 5 tools vs the player’s body type to project the potential of the player. The 5 tools are hitting for average, power, defense, arm strength, and speed. These tools have some relation to anticipated production, but the relation of the tools is the real marker for the projection of eventual production. I.E., an average hit tool may play up due to elite power (ie, Andruw Jones) and a strong defense skill may play down due to a weak arm (ie, Juan Pierre).

Salcedo has a lot of potential which is mostly untapped. Pastornicky has a lot of production, but it doesn’t look like he’s got much more projection than what you see now. It’s always a hard thing to determine when rating prospects – how do you rate a AAA player with good production but no more upside rank against a A- player with a hige upside but no current production? Typically, it’s strictly a hunch by the individual putting down the ratings…

To give you some thoughts here though, from what I’ve seen of Salcedo, IF his production reaches his potential, then I think he could be a legit 1.000 OPS guy @ 3B – think Gary Sheffield with better hands and without the ‘tude that derailed him. Unfortunately, I would also say he has maybe a 1% chance of reaching that level. Still, he a decent (10%) chance of ending up as a .850-.900 OPS guy in LF and that’s still an impact player @ the MLB level – think Matt Holliday. OTOH, Pastornicky is, at best, a David Eckstein-type at the plate and the jury is still out as to whether he can stay @ SS full time. Still that’s a good player and a worthwhile guy for any team, but not an impact guy that makes other teams fear you. Which prospect would you rather have? Fortunately, we don’t have to chose between them…