Commentary

AL playoff homegrown rankings

The Rays are self made, and the Yankees produce far more talent than you think

Updated: September 30, 2011, 1:27 PM ET
By Kevin Goldstein | Baseball Prospectus

Whenever a team brings in a new regime or even simply talks about how to improve a struggling franchise, much of the talk revolves around a commitment to scouting and player development. But how much do this year's playoff contenders practice what is often preached? Here is a ranking of the American League postseason participants, based on how much of their success is self-made.

4. Detroit Tigers

The Tigers are a tribute to how to win without the commitment to scouting and player development, although, to be fair, plenty of their talent has come through the trading of young talent.

To see what Kevin Goldstein says about the level of homegrown talent on the AL playoff teams, become an ESPN Insider.

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