The new generation of baseball analysts have researched and created rankings once never considered. And though some stretch the limit of relevance, others indeed give baseball executives and fans food for thought.
Among those pursuits have been the ratings of farm systems, which are a direct reflection on major league organizations. And though opinions vary, one has remained quite consistent in recent years. And that is that the Arizona Diamondbacks boast one of the finest and most productive in the game.
That acknowledgement brings a smile to the face of Reno Aces General Manager Rick Parr, who spent eight years running the Tucson Sidewinders before the Triple-A franchise was moved this year. But Parr understands that comforting fact alone won't create an ideal marriage between his team and its fans.
Rather, he believes it's a work in progress.
"You have to look at reality," says Parr, who spent 21 years as the general manager of the Double-A El Paso Diablos before hightailing it to Tucson. "Ask yourself in this area whose players will the fans want to see and it's a three-ways split and none of them is Arizona. What the fan base here would love to have is the San Francisco Giants, then half-and-half Oakland and the Dodgers.
"But on the flip side, bringing the Arizona Diamondbacks in, they've been successful, aggressive and younger. There's not as much baggage. We walk into a situation where everyone is neutral. You certainly don't have fans that hate us. People are curious by nature and the Arizona Diamondbacks are the new face to love and develop feelings for."
The feeling is mutual. And Parr believes that a strong two-way relationship is essential to long-term success.
"The Diamondbacks have shown great support of our community," he says. 'Reno is a town that responds well to a grass-roots approach. It's a small- to medium-sized community of 450,000 people and the personal touch way is the way you want to go here."
Parr cites several small samples that he feels will link the major league affiliate to the Reno fans. One is the Diamondbacks jacket that every Aces player wears over his uniform. He feels that shows an element of pride to be Arizona's Triple-A farm club.
But a greater sense of pride, not only in the relationship with the major league organization, but in the city of Reno and the opportunity to embrace baseball at the highest minor-league level, is represented by brand, spanking-new Aces Ballpark. Parr is ecstatic about the 9,000-plus-seat facility, as well as the reaction by the fans to it.
That excitement became evident when the Aces sold out Opening Day in a mere 35 minutes and was selling tickets to the other first weekend games against Salt Lake City quite briskly.
During the process of bringing the Aces to Reno, Parr has learned what the fans are just starting to learn. And that is that minor league baseball, in many ways, is major league.
"I do 99 percent of the speaking engagements here and I can tell you that there are a few things the fans weren't aware of because they had never been taught," he says. "One is that they didn't understand what Triple-A baseball actually means. Until we showed them photos they had no idea what the stadium situation was. The expectations were extremely low.
"Only time will tell, but I think we've made an effort to do things right and not short change the people of Reno by cutting corners. We've made a point of doing that and making everything first-class. When you build a stadium this quickly, there are going to be kinks to work out. We had the fans here to see the park for three days and when they saw how big and first-class it was, now they got real excited."
The fans will get more excited if the Aces win consistently. Young, exceptionally talented position players such as Conor Jackson, Justin Upton, Stephen Drew, Chris Young and brilliant right-handed starter Max Scherzer are among several young talents who filtered through the Arizona minor-league system and each has been considered among the premier prospects in the game.
One and all are now at the major-league level, which doesn't leave as much for the Aces, though 27-year-old slugging first baseman Josh Whitesell is still considered a possible star.
Parr has grown more accustomed to losing young studs to the major-league affiliate than have his peers simply because the Diamondbacks have boasted superior talent at the minor-league level over the years. But that simply goes with the territory. And he simply must adjust.
"This game is built on injuries and who has the best and deepest bench and who has the superstars coming up," offers Parr. "Just because someone is ahead of you on the depth chart doesn't mean you're not going to get an opportunity. It just means that you have to put up some numbers.
"The Diamondbacks right now are full at the major-league level and don't have any injuries. "We lost four of our best players late last July and in early August. But our team now is fast and mobile with guys who can fly, which is great because we have a big outfield. We also have a solid staff and a good bullpen. But we won't know if we can be something special until we start playing."
What he does know is that he has a manager in Brett Butler who was known for his fiery personality as one of the most productive leadoff hitters in baseball with the Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers.
"Brett is a big-time Giant and Dodger guy, so he's a familiar face to the fans here," Parr explains. "We're hanging our hat on him. We're leading the way with Brett Butler. He's perfect for this area and he's got guys who play the game of baseball a lot like he played it."
And now that game will be played in Reno. Eventually the honeymoon period will end. What Parr yearns for is a long and thriving marriage.