Baseball Prospectus, February 2010:

Jaime Garcia, LHP
DOB: 7/8/86
Height/Weight: 6-2/230
Bats/Throws: L/L
Drafted/Signed: 22nd round, 2005, Sharyland HS (TX)
2009 Stats: 4.50 ERA (4.0-4-1-3) at Rookie-level (2 G); 0.71 ERA (12.2-4-4-16) at

High-A (3 G); 3.86 ERA (21.0-17-9-22) at Triple-A (4 G)
Last Year�s Ranking: 8

Year in Review: This lefty sinkerballer made an impressive return from Tommy John surgery, putting himself on the brink of the majors.
The Good: Garcia is a ground-ball machine, with a 90-92 mph sinker that offers as much hard, late break as any in the minor leagues. He adds a good curveball and tends to stay ahead of hitters. His changeup is an average, usable pitch that he has confidence in, and he has a good understanding for how to set up hitters.
The Bad: Even before the surgery, Garcia had a history of elbow issues, and scouts saw little change in his crossfire delivery upon his return. He has also yet to prove he can handle a starter's full workload. He needs to gain more consistency with his secondary offerings.
Ephemera: Right-handers facing Garcia during his three rehab starts at High-A Palm Beach went 3-for-31 with 15 strikeouts.
Perfect World Projection: He�ll be a good ground-ball pitcher with third starter possibilities.
Path to the Big Leagues: It could be over.
Timetable: Garcia enters spring training with a legitimate shot at opening the year as the big-league club's fifth starter.

Thanks, Artie.

My contention was--only partially in jest--whether the Cards promote a prospect was linked to whether the prospect's wife or girlfriend was sleeping with Luhnow.  The observation is that the prospects who are heavily promoted, such as Anderson, Hawksworth, etc. tend to fizzle, and the prospects who develop into productive players, even stars, seem to come out of nowhere.  The response, as I understood it, was that Garcia WAS heavily promoted by the team, and was seen as having a floor of a #3 starter as early as 2005.  I am unconvinced by what you posted that the Cards organization was promoting Garcia as a top prospect with a floor of being a #3 starter . . .  but maybe I misunderstood some of what others posters wrote.

What I read is:

"He'll definitely be a starter in this league in future seasons."
--By Peter Fleischer (Senior Writer) on July 11, 2008

"He'll be a good ground-ball pitcher with third starter possibilities."
--Baseball Prospectus, February 2010

"He projects as a No. 3 starter."
--Goold, in Baseball America, 2010