Micah Hoffpauir

[putmeincoach]

Any news on Hoffpauir? I saw this guy play for Lamar the season they won the Southland Conference. At the time, he had a sweet stroke and could stop anything hit or thrown to him at first. It's been about four years or so since I've seen this guy in action. Looking at his progression through the minors, it seems he's sitting on the bubble. Does he have what it takes? and if so, does his size become a factor (a first baseman at 6-3, 190)? Would moving him to another position affect (increase) his chances of success?

[Tim]

Any news on Hoffpauir? I saw this guy play for Lamar the season they won the Southland Conference. At the time, he had a sweet stroke and could stop anything hit or thrown to him at first. It's been about four years or so since I've seen this guy in action. Looking at his progression through the minors, it seems he's sitting on the bubble. Does he have what it takes? and if so, does his size become a factor (a first baseman at 6-3, 190)? Would moving him to another position affect (increase) his chances of success?

Hoffpauir ran into a tweener problem. Not enough defensive ability to move up the spectrum, not enough power to play 1st in the bigs. Not hitting in the PCL didn't help much, either.

[cubs1206]

I have to disagree with you Tim. I've never seen a better first baseman and he can stroke. The Cubs just really haven't given him a chance. He had the 3rd best batting average in Iowa last season. He was 4 for 5 one night and that same night they sent him to Double A because of a trade that was happening. Now he's not even on the Triple A roster, he's on the AA.

[Smith Cub Fan]

Tim, what are you basing your opinion of Hoffpauir on? Have you looked at the stats as far as his errors go? Seems like a pretty good vaccum cleaner!!!

[Smith Cub Fan]

Hey, Putmeincoach, I watched Hoffpauir in Texas, too. Hear that he is having a great spring. Think that he is 11 for 25 with about 12 RBIs. He has just been told that he will be at 2A only as a backup player. Seems there are alot of politics in this Cub organization. Doesn't appear to be what you can do, but what money they have in you.

[Brian]

ahhh NSBB has been over run with the Hoffpauir fan club :lol:

[Chris]

Hey, Putmeincoach, I watched Hoffpauir in Texas, too. Hear that he is having a great spring. Think that he is 11 for 25 with about 12 RBIs. He has just been told that he will be at 2A only as a backup player. Seems there are alot of politics in this Cub organization. Doesn't appear to be what you can do, but what money they have in you.

 

I didn't know that he was going back to West Tenn, but I did hear from Ron that Dopirak would be the everyday first baseman.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Hey, Putmeincoach, I watched Hoffpauir in Texas, too. Hear that he is having a great spring. Think that he is 11 for 25 with about 12 RBIs. He has just been told that he will be at 2A only as a backup player. Seems there are alot of politics in this Cub organization. Doesn't appear to be what you can do, but what money they have in you.

 

I didn't know that he was going back to West Tenn, but I did hear from Ron that Dopirak would be the everyday first baseman.

 

And Sing should be the everyday first baseman in Iowa.

[texascub]

Hey, Putmeincoach, I watched Hoffpauir in Texas, too. Hear that he is having a great spring. Think that he is 11 for 25 with about 12 RBIs. He has just been told that he will be at 2A only as a backup player. Seems there are alot of politics in this Cub organization. Doesn't appear to be what you can do, but what money they have in you.

 

I didn't know that he was going back to West Tenn, but I did hear from Ron that Dopirak would be the everyday first baseman.

 

And Sing should be the everyday first baseman in Iowa.

 

I hope he isn't the everyday 1b. I know his defence would be rather weak, but his bat might carry him to the big leagues as a RF and he could work on his defence as he progresses there. At only 25 he's still got plenty of time to develop.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Hey, Putmeincoach, I watched Hoffpauir in Texas, too. Hear that he is having a great spring. Think that he is 11 for 25 with about 12 RBIs. He has just been told that he will be at 2A only as a backup player. Seems there are alot of politics in this Cub organization. Doesn't appear to be what you can do, but what money they have in you.

 

I didn't know that he was going back to West Tenn, but I did hear from Ron that Dopirak would be the everyday first baseman.

 

And Sing should be the everyday first baseman in Iowa.

 

I hope he isn't the everyday 1b. I know his defence would be rather weak, but his bat might carry him to the big leagues as a RF and he could work on his defence as he progresses there. At only 25 he's still got plenty of time to develop.

 

Ooof, good point. He'll probably play his share of RF too.

[NCCubFan]

ahhh NSBB has been over run with the Hoffpauir fan club :lol:

It's been quite some time, but his wife has actually posted here a couple of times.

[Smith Cub Fan]

As far as Hoffpauir playing RF, I don't think that will happen. He is a lefty. They do play him in LF.

 

Sorry guys....not his wife! Don't have to be a woman to disagree!

 

Hoffpauir seems to be a hardworker...dedicated. Watched him through college. Would like to see him make it.

[Bear Cub]

I think Huffpauir has turned into a very marginal prospect because of his limited power and being able to only play 1b. They probably consider Matt Craig a better prospect because he can play multiple positions and does have power from both sides of the plate. I look for Craig to play some 3b and 1b and DH at Iowa.

[cubs1206]

Nope about Matt Craig. He's gone back to Daytona to try to be a catcher. This organization is losing it.

[rawaction]

Yeah, Hoffpauir is an excellent defensive 1B. He's a poor man's Doug Mientkiewicz, which wouldn't be a bad thing, except that Doug is a poor man's backup 1B offensively.

[jaxxradio]

cubs 1206, Matt requested the position change after talking with some folks in the organization. This wasn't a Cubs decision.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

cubs 1206, Matt requested the position change after talking with some folks in the organization. This wasn't a Cubs decision.

 

 

He would have never made the majors without one, so a positon change could be a good thing for him.

[jaxxradio]

That's the reason why he switched positions. The fastest way to the major leagues is showing versatility. If Craig can be successful behind the plate then that would make at least three positions that he could play.

[UBlink]

cubs 1206, Matt requested the position change after talking with some folks in the organization. This wasn't a Cubs decision.

 

I'm pretty sure at least one of the folks was Barrett, also a former shortstop.

[craig]

Hey, Putmeincoach, I watched Hoffpauir in Texas, too. Hear that he is having a great spring. Think that he is 11 for 25 with about 12 RBIs. He has just been told that he will be at 2A only as a backup player. Seems there are alot of politics in this Cub organization. Doesn't appear to be what you can do, but what money they have in you.

 

With all due respect, the complaint that promotions are based on politics and signing bonus etc. is a routine criticism of almost all farm systems, normally by supporters of players who who don't really project to fit in as big-leaguers and get bypassed by those who long-range big-league potential is better.

 

I agree, by the way, that Hoffpauir is an *excellent* defensive 1B. My understanding from other observers as well is that he is really good in the field there. At the same time, he's 26 years old, and while his batting average may have been 4th or whatever on Iowa last year, he hit only .268 last year with only 3 HR's and a low OBP in almost 400 AB; maybe he went 4-5 the night before getting sent down, but the bottom line is that he didn't show enough bat for a 25-year-old to stay on the map as more than a very long-shot big-league prospect. I'm sorry if that sounds harsh. But having the 4th best average on a terrible-hitting minor-league team when that average is not supported by either HR's or OBP, when you're not young, and when you're playing 1B, that just isn't much for a fan of the major league team to get very excited about.

 

I'm not sure I understand where the money thing fits in. Brandon Sing has been a mammoth producer, and has moved ahead of Hoffpauir on the major-league-prospect status. Sing was a 20th round draft choice, and was no more a money sign than Hoffpauir. Obviously he's not the fielder that Hoffpauir is, but Sing is definitely the better major-league prospect. Makes sense that they move Sing up, even if that comes at the expense of Hoffpauir.

 

Maybe Dopirak? I expect that Dopirak will start ahead of Hoffpauir if both are at WTenn 1B. And I agree that for right now, there's a good chance that Hoffpauir might be a better player. Certainly way better defensively, and very likely to hit for better average. Is that unfair politics, biased by money and by Dopirak being a politics favorite? Maybe, if the goal is winning at WTenn or developing AA/AAA players. But the purpose is big-league guys. Dopirak is unlikely to become a good one, but he's young enough for it to still be a chance. I think most baseball people would think it best to start Dopirak, given his perceived potential. Most likely he'll never make enough contact to really capitalize on the power potential that he has, and he'll end up having no big-league impact. But there's a chance, and it makes sense to try to get him to what he might become if he works out his problems.

 

In terms of opportunity, Hoffpauir has been a starter in each of his previous seasons, and has been promoted steadily, including skipping a level. I don't see how he's been deprived of fair chance. Had he hit .300 with 15 HR's and an .800+ OPS, I don't think he'd back at AA. But a .676 OPS as a 25-year-old 1B in the PCL, that's just not capitalizing on the opportunity afforded.

[craig]

Matt Craig at catcher, that's a good move. Too bad it's so late. Versatility is important towards a utility career, obviously. Unfortunately it doesn't seem he was very good defensively at 3B, so being versatily (sp?) sub-average at multiple positions doesn't help all that much...

 

It had become pretty evident that he wasn't going to be the super-slugger to make it as a 1B (and with Sing and Dopirak commanding time, Craig was facing the same 1B clutter that hurts Hoffpauir). He wasn't hitting enough to offset his defensive limitations at 3B. But it's pretty evident that if he could transform himself into a decent-fielding catcher (unlikely as that may be), he's got more than enough bat relative to that low-offense position.

 

he's got a strong arm, he doesn't have great range afield. So it seems that C could really play best to his physical strengths and limitations. Obviously we've seen a lot of guys take a shot at catcher (McGehee, Brendan Harris, etc..), and realize quickly enough that it's an awfully tough position to play. But if Craig became the miracle who could handle it defensively, it wold be a great place for his bat.

[Rob]

Matt Craig at catcher, that's a good move. Too bad it's so late. Versatility is important towards a utility career, obviously. Unfortunately it doesn't seem he was very good defensively at 3B, so being versatily (sp?) sub-average at multiple positions doesn't help all that much...

 

Did you completely forget about the last few years of Jose Macias?

[rawaction]

Matt Craig at catcher, that's a good move. Too bad it's so late. Versatility is important towards a utility career, obviously. Unfortunately it doesn't seem he was very good defensively at 3B, so being versatily (sp?) sub-average at multiple positions doesn't help all that much...

 

It had become pretty evident that he wasn't going to be the super-slugger to make it as a 1B (and with Sing and Dopirak commanding time, Craig was facing the same 1B clutter that hurts Hoffpauir). He wasn't hitting enough to offset his defensive limitations at 3B. But it's pretty evident that if he could transform himself into a decent-fielding catcher (unlikely as that may be), he's got more than enough bat relative to that low-offense position.

 

he's got a strong arm, he doesn't have great range afield. So it seems that C could really play best to his physical strengths and limitations. Obviously we've seen a lot of guys take a shot at catcher (McGehee, Brendan Harris, etc..), and realize quickly enough that it's an awfully tough position to play. But if Craig became the miracle who could handle it defensively, it wold be a great place for his bat.

 

If he can stick at catcher, he could be a factor. Switch hitting catchers with power are valuable in the major leagues.

 

But as you said, it looks pretty late and unlikely right now.

[Guest]

I have to disagree with you Tim. I've never seen a better first baseman and he can stroke. The Cubs just really haven't given him a chance. He had the 3rd best batting average in Iowa last season. He was 4 for 5 one night and that same night they sent him to Double A because of a trade that was happening. Now he's not even on the Triple A roster, he's on the AA.

By defensive ability, I meant that while he's a very good first baseman, he doesn't have the athleticism to move to a position that is further up the defensive spectrum such as RF. As for his offense, he simply doesn't hit for enough power to be a major league first baseman. Add in the fact that as an older player in the second best league for offense in the minors he didn't hit for a very good average and the outlook doesn't look very good for Micah.

 

I'm sorry about that because he has been a player I would like to see succeed.

[craig]

I'm sorry about that because he has been a player I would like to see succeed.

 

I agree with that. I've heard some very complimentary things about Micah the person and as an ambassador with kids and fans. Seems to be a guy whose personal qualities may rate much higher than the average major leaguer.