Minor League Roster Comments

[craig]

Now that we have all the minor league rosters in, it's pretty interesting. Obviously each one impacts the others, so having the whole bunch allows for some observatios.

*The Cubs don't seem to be rushing anybody. People used to complain about the Cubs rushing prospects. But I certainly don't see that this spring. Pawelek not in full season. Fuld moves only one level. Billek and Phelps held in A-. Layden back in A-, Estrada, Fox staying in A+. Not much rushing that I can see.

*The pitching seems to be remarkably, incredibly healthy. Young pitchers in their low 20's or less are very prone to injury. I used to think that if I guessed who the best five rotation prospects would be for each level, odds were good that at least one out of five at each level would turn up unhealthy. Was it two years ago that three of our best prospects, Jones, Petrick, and Ryu were all on special arm problem schedule, Sisco's arm wasn't as strong, Vasquez had problems, and of course Guzman and Hagerty and others weren't coming back as quickly as had been projected. But this year, I can't see anybody who was thought to be healthy end of last year who's DL'd now. Of the rehab guys, marshall and Guzman and Vasquez and Hagerty are all on active rosters. Blasko, Connolly, and Ransom are the only rehabs I can think of who aren't. That's very, very good. The only position player I can think of who's missing is Kyle Reynolds. Not bad at all.

*Given the generally conservative promotion schedule, those who are being jumped are more noticable. Dylan Johnston and Luke Hagerty are the most noteworthy, and Justin Berg. Holliman starting straight in A+. Hhopefully Johnston is up there because he's the real deal. Ditto for Berg. Would be great if one or both of those guys established themselves as genuine prospects.

*Not sure if it's just as a roster filler, but Brett Jackson at A+ surprised me too. May be a case of they needed somebody to fill the staff, so a fringe guy pop him up, hope he can handle it and you've got a surprise, but if he gets buried, who cares. But given that there are guys like Layden and Phelps and Estrada and Billek *not* promoting to Daytona, I don't exactly see how Daytona didn't have other options. Anyway, curious.

*Daytona looks much stronger than I expected. I hadn't expected any of Fox, Craig, Fuld, or perhaps even Spears to be there. Having all four of those guys at Daytona, pretty professional hitters relative to A-ball, could make that a very productive offense. Culpepper too may not have much big-league potential, but may be a plenty competitive hitter relative to A+. Daytona is my choice for the team most likely to have a winning record. Hopefully playing alongside some of those guys who take a few pitches, even Harvey will take a few more pitches? Obviously he's still pivotal, and if he again struggles to reach the .300-OBP leve they won't be a super team. But if those other guys are productive hitters, plus if Harvey could reach base more regularly and elevate into a bigger contributor, Daytona could really score a lot of runs.

*With neither Pawelek nor Taylor nor the Boise SS from last year nor Yusuf Carter nor Sammy Baez making full season, Boise should have the core of a potentially strong pitching staff, and at least a couple of position players who might possibly become prospects. Assuming that got supplemented by some draft choices or perhaps a talented Latin player or two that we don't know much about, perhaps Boise will be pretty interesting too. Of course, given probably not so much help from the draft, since after the first round we won't pick till the 5th. (And first rounders usually dont spend much time at Boise, either because they don't sign till after the season. And even if they do sign quickly, they rarely spend much first-summer tiime at Boise; if HS, they're at Mesa. If a college player is good enough to be top-15 selection, he won't need more than a couple of games at Boise before promotion to full-A.)

Edited April 4, 2006 by craig

[Guest]

But this year, I can't see anybody who was thought to be healthy end of last year who's DL'd now. Of the rehab guys, marshall and Guzman and Vasquez and Hagerty are all on active rosters. Blasko, Connolly, and Ransom are the only rehabs I can think of who aren't. That's very, very good. The only position player I can think of who's missing is Kyle Reynolds. Not bad at all.

Petrick isn't on any roster, but I'm not sure if he was expected to be. Perhaps that is what you meant.

[Bear Cub]

There has to a way of finding who is still in Mesa on a rehab program and who fell by the wayside on the last cuts when these minor lge teams were formulated.

[craig]

Petrick isn't on any roster, but I'm not sure if he was expected to be. Perhaps that is what you meant.

 

Yes, Petrick of course. But yeah, we knew he wasn't going to be on a roster this soon, no chance given mid-season surgery last year.

 

There was a note in Petrick's local newspaper two weeks ago claiming that his rehab was going well, and he's on pace to begin pitching in mid-May. So I'm feeling positive about his arm, not discouraged.

 

IIRC, it was phrased as if he might be pitching for a team in mid-May. But local reporters are often mixed up on these things, so may have actually meant he'd begin throwing off a mount or something, who knows.

[ChiefsVoice]

I think it was pretty unrealistic to expect to see Sam Fuld in AA Craig. He is a centerfielder which means that if he were to go there, then Chris Walker would be held back and I don't think anyone wanted that to happen. The CF's are pretty clear cut everywhere. Pie, Walker, Fuld, Gregg. And I think it will stay that way until Felix moves up to Chicago.

 

Also, I don't expect Pawelek to stay in Arizona until the Boise season starts. I don't have any inside info at all, I haven't heard anything but I won't be surprised if they are just building his pitch count in AZ before he comes here.

 

It looks like Phelps will compete for the closers job here and that is probably why he is back, to turn him into a closer. I guess we'll know more in the next week or two! Best time of the year!!! enjoy....

 

Nathan

[craig]

I think it was pretty unrealistic to expect to see Sam Fuld in AA Craig. He is a centerfielder which means that if he were to go there, then Chris Walker would be held back and I don't think anyone wanted that to happen. The CF's are pretty clear cut everywhere. Pie, Walker, Fuld, Gregg. And I think it will stay that way until Felix moves up to Chicago...Nathan

 

Very true.

 

I guess I figured that guys like Walker and Fuld aren't likely to crash into the majors as single-position starting players. Like Angel Pagan, if they are to eventually make it, it will likely be as a utility outfielder. So I didn't think there would be much problem having Fuld play LF or RF if they thought he was a significant prospect and was ready for AA, and if they thought facing AA pitching would be better for his development. Fuld, Walker, Greenberg type guys could all split up outfield time (and DH time) at AA, and all share some CF and corner OF time to prepare them as utility outfielders.

 

Certainly the success of the minor league clubs is better served with Fuld at Daytona.

[CubsMinorLeagueReport]

Also, I don't expect Pawelek to stay in Arizona until the Boise season starts. I don't have any inside info at all, I haven't heard anything but I won't be surprised if they are just building his pitch count in AZ before he comes here.

 

Nathan

 

My thoughts exactly Nathan...

[Bear Cub]

I really like the set up of young catchers through out the system. It looks like they put their four best prospects at the four levels.

Soto..Iowa

Reyes ..Tenn.

Fox ...Daytona

Reed..Peoria

Carter..Boise???

[Bear Cub]

Here are some players that surprized me by not being assigned as of yet.

 

Elvin Puello 3b

Kyle Reynolds If

Darrin Downs LHP

Jerry Blevins LHP

Alfredo Francisco RHP

Clint Brannon LHP

[craig]

Here are some players that surprized me by not being assigned as of yet.

 

Elvin Puello 3b

Kyle Reynolds If

Darrin Downs LHP

Jerry Blevins LHP

Alfredo Francisco RHP

Clint Brannon LHP

 

I agree. I wonder if there are some health issues with Reynolds, who I believe has a long-standing chronic injury history in college. For the pitchers, it certainly doesn't speak well for their standing in the organization. Every spring, of course, they hold a batch of older pitchers back in extended spring. Function as a taxi squad, sort of. If a pitcher in A-ball gets injured, pull somebody in their 20's up from the Mesa taxi-squad! If a pitcher in AA or AAA gets hurt, promote somebody from A+, and replace him from the taxi squad. But it probably doesn't speak too well for Dwons or Blevins or Brannon's status if they are held on the taxi squad rather than making a real roster...

 

Of course, health may also factor. Downs has had plenty of arm problems, last year and in high school, and isn't very good to begin with. If he's not 100% physically, no surprise that he might have trouble cracking a full-seasonn team.