Which '06 Rookies make the cut in '07?

[Soriano12]

Fearless Predicition

 

IF given the chance to start everday in LF in 07...

 

Murton will hit 320 with 20HR's and 85 RBI's.

 

The 20 homers is the one I would most question. I think he has the ability to be a batting-title type of hitter, but I think he looks more like a 10-15 homer type of guy with more doubles.

 

He has really shown a nice power stroke in August(5 HR's)

 

Phyisically, he is built for power. I see no reason he can't avg b/t 3-4 HR's a

month and get b/t 18-20 while still hitting for an average.

[CubsInNC]

Fearless Predicition

 

IF given the chance to start everday in LF in 07...

 

Murton will hit 320 with 20HR's and 85 RBI's.

 

The 20 homers is the one I would most question. I think he has the ability to be a batting-title type of hitter, but I think he looks more like a 10-15 homer type of guy with more doubles.

 

I wouldn't be opposed to a few Olerud like years. I see him in a similar mold. Around a .300 average with probably fewer HRs but a few more doubles and triples than Olerud. I could live with that out of LF, especially if we were able to get higher than expected SLG out of CF and 2B.

[Derwood]

Fearless Predicition

 

IF given the chance to start everday in LF in 07...

 

Murton will hit 320 with 20HR's and 85 RBI's.

 

The 20 homers is the one I would most question. I think he has the ability to be a batting-title type of hitter, but I think he looks more like a 10-15 homer type of guy with more doubles.

 

I wouldn't be opposed to a few Olerud like years. I see him in a similar mold. Around a .300 average with probably fewer HRs but a few more doubles and triples than Olerud. I could live with that out of LF, especially if we were able to get higher than expected SLG out of CF and 2B.

 

I was just thinking Olerud too. Or Paul O'Neill, that type of guy.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I wonder how O'Malley would do as a loogy type player...

 

At AAA:

 

33.2 IP vs. lefties: .279 BAA

90 IP vs. righties: .285 BAA

[Warpticon]

Hill: rotation. Has shown in August that he can dominate at the major league level. Needs a regular job to demonstrate it in the long term.

Guzman: rotation, depending on the next couple of weeks (looks as though he may have turned the corner, though).

Marmol: AAA (He's had some really nice starts, but his command needs a LOT of work--more walks than strikeouts on the season is inexcusable, and he can't be counted on).

Marshall: up in the air. Control issues are pretty significant (not Marmol significant, but still), but if healthy, could be ready to turn corner. His control issues weren't exactly reflected in his minor league numbers, so it could just be an adjustment issue.

Pagan: Pleasant surprise. Give him a shot at some PT. I'd favor dropping Pierre and having him as a cheap alternative in CF (failing readiness by Pie), but that's not likely to happen. Can he sustain what he's doing with regards to power? Maybe, maybe not, but there's no way to find out without additional PT.

Murton: Somewhat disappointing season in some regards, but he is showing increasing power and the ability to be a quality contact hitter at the major league level. He'll never be a 30 homer type, but there is reason to believe he can't provide 18-25 home run power and a very good OBP over the course of his prime years for an 800-850ish OPS. Considering this team's deficiencies, I think that's worth nurturing with more playing time.

[CubsInNC]

Fearless Predicition

 

IF given the chance to start everday in LF in 07...

 

Murton will hit 320 with 20HR's and 85 RBI's.

 

The 20 homers is the one I would most question. I think he has the ability to be a batting-title type of hitter, but I think he looks more like a 10-15 homer type of guy with more doubles.

 

I wouldn't be opposed to a few Olerud like years. I see him in a similar mold. Around a .300 average with probably fewer HRs but a few more doubles and triples than Olerud. I could live with that out of LF, especially if we were able to get higher than expected SLG out of CF and 2B.

 

I was just thinking Olerud too. Or Paul O'Neill, that type of guy.

 

 

I figured Olerud was a better comparison than Tony Gwynn minus 60 points...

[MPrior]

My one absolute requirement is that Murton be given the starting LF job next year. I don't think he should platoon at all. Not only is he showing signs of improvement, but the only two regulars in our lineup with higher OBP than Murton are Barrett and Lee - and Lee barely counts. Why on earth would an OBP-starved team like the Cubs bench one of its best guys at getting on base, especially when you've got him for the league minimum?

 

On top of that, Murton's power seems to be progressing - if he keeps hitting well, he may finsih the season with an OPS over .800. Also, his splits against righties are no longer really that bad at all. He certainly has the potential to develop into something special, and even at his current level of production, he's providing something that the Cubs desperately need - OBP.

 

Something needs to be done about Cedeno - he's providing sub-Neifi production. This would be acceptable on a team with otherwise good hitters. But we don't have otherwise good hitters. He needs to go back to AAA to see if he can figure things out or be traded. I guess he'd be all right on the bench.

 

As far as the pitchers, I feel pretty strongly that Marmol belongs back in the minors. His control problems are HUGE, and he needs to fix them before he can get anywhere.

 

I'm leaning towards leaving Guzman in the minors too, because he hasn't impressed this year in either league, and could probably use some more ironing out - but the rest of the season could easily change my opinion.

 

I want Hill in the rotation, unless he completely implodes the rest of the season. There is literally no value to having him in the minors at this point, and he certainly has the capability to dominate. If he's not in the rotation, I want him traded.

 

Marshall is the hardest one for me to answer. He's shown a lot of poise, and can clearly mentally handle being in the big leagues. However, he has a pretty limited ceiling, and might not progress too much beyond what he's done this year. I say he goes in the rotation if there's room. If not, AAA.

 

Pagan is a bench bat at best, and not a particularly good one at that. That said, I'd love for him to prove me wrong.

[SoonerCubFan]

Let's just say that if we lose Ramirez and have Murton and Cedeno starting, I'd prefer to see Felix Pie in CF and possibly Eric Patterson at 2B as well. Either go all out and get a handful of proven All Star talent, or go all out and build for future years. Quit half-a$$ing it.

 

As for the young pitchers, I like Hill and Guzman, and Marshall looks decent enough. What I don't understand is the lack of interest in Mateo. To me he looks like he has the best makeup of the group and has good enough stuff and control and has had solid MiLB numbers. I was loooking forward to Marmol, but agree that he needs some AAA time to harness his stuff.

[Knyption]

I think that with the right coaching, Mateo can be a killer closer.

[soccer10k]

Angel Pagan = Carlos Beltran Jr. of course.

[USSoccer]

I'd package Marshall, Mateo and Harvey and see what I could get.

 

I'd keep Hill and Guzman on the 25 man. One can be the 5th starter and the other the long man. I like what I've seen from both of them, especially of late.

 

Marmol goes to AAA to work on his command.

 

Murton is my starting LF and #2 hitter.

 

Cedeno and Theriot can battle it out for the utility IF spot. Neither impress me much.

 

Pagan can be a nice 5th OF. Assuming we have a competent manager that keeps his players in the proper role.

 

O'Malley and Walrond can go away.