BP: Pie 8th-ranked CF Prospect

[Laura]

Not sure this has been posted.

 

Kevin Goldstein / Baseball Prospectus[/url]"]

8. Felix Pie, Cubs

Age: 21.5 Hitting: .273/.332/.416 in 114 G (AAA)

 

It's been a frustrating season for Pie at Iowa this year, but in his defense he's been rushed through the system, is young for the league, and has been showing signs of life in the second half with a .327 batting average in 37 games since July 1. Pie is blessed with tremendous tools and athleticism, and he's just beginning to reach his potential. With 10 home runs, he's just one off his career high and could be good for 20+ home runs in the majors once his power matures. Pie's approach remains incredibly immature, though. He's an impatient hitter who is prone to chasing pitches outside the strike zone, and the veteran hurlers of the Pacfic Coast League have responded by feeding him a steady diet of breaking balls, which has led to 104 strikeouts. While he's a plus-plus runner, he's not a good base stealer, with a career success rate of just 62% (94 for 150). He'd be best served by another season of Triple-A to polish his rough edges, but the Cubs current outfield situation might not allow for it.

 

They ranked 12 and gave 5 more honorable mentions. Cameron Maybin was their #1.

[RynoRules]

Not sure this has been posted.

 

Kevin Goldstein / Baseball Prospectus[/url]"]

8. Felix Pie, Cubs

Age: 21.5 Hitting: .273/.332/.416 in 114 G (AAA)

 

It's been a frustrating season for Pie at Iowa this year, but in his defense he's been rushed through the system, is young for the league, and has been showing signs of life in the second half with a .327 batting average in 37 games since July 1. Pie is blessed with tremendous tools and athleticism, and he's just beginning to reach his potential. With 10 home runs, he's just one off his career high and could be good for 20+ home runs in the majors once his power matures. Pie's approach remains incredibly immature, though. He's an impatient hitter who is prone to chasing pitches outside the strike zone, and the veteran hurlers of the Pacfic Coast League have responded by feeding him a steady diet of breaking balls, which has led to 104 strikeouts. While he's a plus-plus runner, he's not a good base stealer, with a career success rate of just 62% (94 for 150). He'd be best served by another season of Triple-A to polish his rough edges, but the Cubs current outfield situation might not allow for it.

 

They ranked 12 and gave 5 more honorable mentions. Cameron Maybin was their #1.

 

 

:evil:

[Mephistopheles]

Jim Callis in his latest chat

 

Bob (Chicago, IL): Pie or Pierre.

 

SportsNation Jim Callis: (2:49 PM ET ) Pie. I'm not a big Pierre fan, because I think he has to hit .320 to be a useful offensive player.

 

Bob (Chicago,IL): Pie or David Veal.

 

SportsNation Jim Callis: (2:50 PM ET ) I might just take Donald Veal.

 

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/majors/features/262133.html

[rawaction]

I don't know much about Martinez, but I'm not a big fan of any of those guys outside of Maybin, Upton, and McCutcheon.

 

Young is a year and a half older than Felix, and while he has shown a pretty good batting eye and more power, he will strike out a bunch and won't have much of an average to show for it. He seems to me to be a RH version of Steve Finley, without the big years around age 36-38.

 

The only thing Kemp has shown more than Felix is power, which makes sense for someone 2 inches and about 30-40lbs larger.

 

High A-

Pie .301, .364, .448; 415 ABs, 39 BB, 113 K

Kemp .306, .349, .554; 418 ABs, 25 BB, 92 K

 

Much more power shown by Kemp, but keep in mind he was 20 in low A, while Pie was 19. Both are young for the league, but Felix was more raw and somewhat made up the power difference with BB ratio.

 

AA-

Pie .304, .349, .554; 240 ABs, 16 BB, 53 K

Kemp .327, .399, .528; 199 ABs, 20 BB, 38 K

 

Pretty decent advantage for Kemp there, but Pie showed he can possibly keep up with him in power in the long-run. Kemp made a splash in the majors for a while, but had 8 BBs to 41 Ks in 122 ABs, showing he's still a free swinger.

 

While I can't completely disagree with the rankings, I think Felix could easily be the 3rd best ML'er on that list. Maybin looks like the real deal, but the other young guys are so raw and a long way away.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Anyone have any idea what the average IsoD is for a Major Leaguer? Pie has been consistently around .060 while being 2-3 years young for his level. I can't imagine .060 is well below average, even among starting players.

[Mephistopheles]

im only using AL to take out pitchers

 

2006: .066

2005: .060

2004: .066

2003: .064

2002: .065

2001: .064

2000: .070

 

The average K:BB is just under 2:1 and the average K rate is about 16%

[Transmogrified Tiger]

im only using AL to take out pitchers

 

2006: .066

2005: .060

2004: .066

2003: .064

2002: .065

2001: .064

2000: .070

 

The average K:BB is just under 2:1 and the average K rate is about 16%

 

Thanks. Is that percentage per AB or PA?

[Mephistopheles]

PA of course. Strikeout per AB is useless.

 

Pie's K/PA is over 21% and his K:BB is 2.9:1

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

I think Chris Young is being overrated slightly this season. He's doing ALOT right this year, but his overall .278/.366/.543 line is not too impressive considering where he is. Neither is his .200 BA against LHP, or his .255 average away from a major hitters park.

 

Still, you have to like a 21 year old CFer in AAA who improves his K:BB ratio, still walks a ton, hits for alot of power, and plays good defense. And you have to take into account that he started this year off hurt. He has a good track record in the high minors also. He's also hit .290+ in every month but April and June.

 

I like him as much as most of the other guys on the list, and actually I would say that Pie is my least favorite player on that list. I see Pie as (at best) a Jacque Jones type guy unless he REALLY refines his game in the coming years. For some reason a 21 year who being rushed through the minors still having problem stealing bases successfully, hitting breaking balls, not walking, and so on but still getting by on his tools isn't too intriguing to me.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I like him as much as most of the other guys on the list, and actually I would say that Pie is my least favorite player on that list. I see Pie as (at best) a Jacque Jones type guy unless he REALLY refines his game in the coming years. For some reason a 21 year who being rushed through the minors still having problem stealing bases successfully, hitting breaking balls, not walking, and so on but still getting by on his tools isn't too intriguing to me.

 

When Jacque Jones was Pie's age, he was at USC and played 1 game in High A ball.

[ChiCubsFan]

I like him as much as most of the other guys on the list, and actually I would say that Pie is my least favorite player on that list. I see Pie as (at best) a Jacque Jones type guy unless he REALLY refines his game in the coming years. For some reason a 21 year who being rushed through the minors still having problem stealing bases successfully, hitting breaking balls, not walking, and so on but still getting by on his tools isn't too intriguing to me.

 

When Jacque Jones was Pie's age, he was at USC and played 1 game in High A ball.

 

That fact makes me happy.

[rawaction]

I don't understand how Pie has been rushed. He's made stops at every single level in the minors. Only skipping short-season A-ball, after putting up a .950+ OPS in rookie league. He was solid in low A, not great, but justified his promotion by having a better year in high A. He was logically promoted to AA, where he was excellent, albeit in a half season. You can possibly take exception to him not going back to AA, but he had a great start in AAA, again justifying promotion. He struggled for a while, now is turning it back on again.

 

Comparably, Corey Patterson never played rookie or short-season. Never played in high A. Made his ML debut after barely 2 seasons in the minors. And was yo-yoed back and forth from the majors in his 3rd pro season. I have no problem with the way the Cubs have handled Felix. Just because he's 21 and at AAA doesn't mean he's being rushed.

[Laura]

Do you think we'll see a September callup?

[rawaction]

Do you think we'll see a September callup?

 

Maybe a token callup, but he won't get much playing time. If Iowa makes the playoffs, he won't come up til mid-September anyway. And I don't see Dusty sitting Pierre or Jones much. I'd say a bunch of pinch running and maybe 2-3 starts the final week of the season.

[NCCubFan]

And I don't see Dusty sitting Pierre or Jones much.

Yeah, gotta keep playing them to uphold the integrity of the pennant races.

[Jazz]

I'm suprised and happy at the way the Cubs have taken their time with Pie, but I think it is because of his age, because lord knows how many times the organazation has ruined the career of many a good minor leaguer a la Patterson. I really hope we say Pie given a chance to be an everday starter, what kind of player exactly does he project to be and what spot in the order is he best suited for?

[WrigleyField 22]

I'm suprised and happy at the way the Cubs have taken their time with Pie, but I think it is because of his age, because lord knows how many times the organazation has ruined the career of many a good minor leaguer a la Patterson. I really hope we say Pie given a chance to be an everday starter, what kind of player exactly does he project to be and what spot in the order is he best suited for?

 

Just looking at stats his OBP is too tied to his AVG to really be a top of the order guy, though its likely his speed will get him placed there because of the speedy leadoff guy mold.

Power wise he hasnt ever shown the SLG neccessary to hit in the middle of the order(other than a half season .554 last year), but he could add muscle to his frame and gain more power as he matures.

 

Either he needs to learn more plate discipline and become a top of the order guy or add some muscle and hit somewhere 4-6. If he can manage to do both he could become a deadly 3 or 4 hitter.

[soccer10k]

And I don't see Dusty sitting Pierre or Jones much.

 

I could maybe see him sitting Jones a couple games but Pierre has played every single game this year. Baker won't sit Pierre to play Pie..