John Sickels - Top 20 Cubs Prospects

[CardsFanInChiTown]

2007 Chicago Cubs Prospects

  1. Felix Pie, OF, Grade B+ (tools look like they are developing)
  2. Donald Veal, LHP, Grade B+ (excellent stuff, needs to reduce walks)
  3. Eric Patterson, 2B, Grade B+ (looks solid to me, has improved in all phases)
  4. Sean Gallagher, RHP, B (inning-eater type)
  5. Mark Pawelek, LHP, B (could rise to B+ if he stays in shape)
  6. Jeff Samardzija, RHP, B- (talented, but raw for a college guy and the whole football thing scares me)
  7. Tyler Colvin, OF, B- (I'm not as wild about him as some people)
  8. Jae Kuk Ryu, RHP, B- (looked bad in the majors but a good Triple-A season)
  9. Scott Moore, 3B, C+ (utility guy with a power bat)
 10. Ryan Theroit, INF, C+ (not technically a rookie, but the Cubs system is thin enough that I will probably put him in the book. Last year was a fluke but he's a decent player)
 11. Juan Mateo, RHP, C+ (was rushed and it showed)
 12. Adam Harben, RHP, C+ (gets lots of grounders)
 13. Mitch Atkins, RHP, C+ (sleeper prospect to watch)
 14. Jake Fox, C, C+ (nice power bat)
 15. Chris Huesby, RHP, C (good arm but a long way away)
 16. Jose Ceda, RHP, C (good arm but a long way away)
 17. Ryan Harvey, OF, C (I'm getting skeptical)
 18. Clay Rapada, LHP, C (good LOOGY)
 19. Rocky Cherry, RHP, C (maybe a good ROOGY)
 20. Chris Shaver, LHP, C (finesse pitcher who did well in Double-A)

 

Additional Comments

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Thanks, CFICT.

 

Yay, he rates Felix #1!

 

I disagree with a lot of the rest of the list.

[Guest]

Thanks, CFICT.

 

Yay, he rates Felix #1!

 

I disagree with a lot of the rest of the list.

I think he got the first two right.

[Mephistopheles]

I don't think he knows a thing about Chris Huseby other than that he has a "good arm." The more and more I've read stuff at his site I've realize how ill-informed he is.

 

Just my authoritative two cents.

[TruffleShuffle]

I think he got the first 3 right, except they were in the wrong order

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I can't believe Harvey's name is still popping up on lists.

[TruffleShuffle]

I can't believe Harvey's name is still popping up on lists.

 

If he hadn't been drafted in the top 10, I'm sure it wouldn't be. Or maybe Sickels is thinking he'll get moved to pitcher... I have more hope for him there.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I can't believe Harvey's name is still popping up on lists.

 

He belongs in the top in this system as of now.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I like Sickels but I don't think he has as much information on the players as he has had in years past. I used to be an avid reader of his book, and I might still decide to buy next year's, but I may look at other sources.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

Same for me vance.

 

As far as our prospects, this system blows. I really like Gallagher, and I think many people are missing the jump in velocity in his fastball and how much better his curveball got.

 

Pie is so raw, as a Veal. It's scary how close Pie is, yet how unrefined he is.

 

Pawelek and Colvin are our "sleepers," even if they were first round picks.

[goonys evil twin]

He's not as wild about Colvin as some people. My question is, other than Cubs employees, and maybe some groupies, who is wild about Colvin?

 

 

That list is ugly.

[RichHillIsABeast]

He's not as wild about Colvin as some people. My question is, other than Cubs employees, and maybe some groupies, who is wild about Colvin?

 

Baseball America and all the scouts they talked to.

[goonys evil twin]

He's not as wild about Colvin as some people. My question is, other than Cubs employees, and maybe some groupies, who is wild about Colvin?

 

Baseball America and all the scouts they talked to.

 

But, wild about him? I guess I missed those reports. I remember people saying he's a nice prospect and all, but I don't remember anybody going gaga.

[Mephistopheles]

well ba did kinda label him as the best prospect in his league with plus power

[BigbadB]

I've always enjoyed Sickels. Rating 30 major league teams prospects has to be a pretty tough gig. His list isn't bad considering he just arranged most of the name prospects into a list that met his liking. Most of us here would probably do a better job of ranking them, but he's doing it for 30 teams, not just one.

[Mephistopheles]

he also has access to a lot more sources than we do.

[the splendid splinter]

From what I've read in the past, Sickles has had lots of troubles reading a Wilken run draft. He really struggled thru the years with Rios and often accused Wilken of taking big pithcers size wise.

[BigbadB]

he also has access to a lot more sources than we do.

 

This is true. But, how many minor league teams are there? Approximately 6 per MLB team? 30 major league teams x 6 minor league teams is 180 teams. Now take 180 minor league teams x however many roster spots each minor league affiliate is allowed. 25? 4500?

 

Also keeping an eye on all the top high school and college prospects, plus potential import players and independant leagues and it's a pretty big job.

 

Does anyone project 30 teams of prospects very well? Hats off to anyone that does.

[Quakers]

He's not as wild about Colvin as some people. My question is, other than Cubs employees, and maybe some groupies, who is wild about Colvin?

 

Baseball America and all the scouts they talked to.

 

I certainly do not qualify as an expert, but I liked what I saw of Colvin in the NWL championship series last year. BA's appraisal seemed accurate to me.

Edited January 1, 2007 by Quakers

[CardsFanInChiTown]

I should have mentioned this is his preliminary list. Here's what he wrote about it:

 

Once again, don't get upset about the Grade C/C+ guys. They are very much interchangeable depending on what you want to emphasize. There are several back-end bullpen candidates who could be interesting eventually, guys like Rapada, Cherry, Layden, etc.

 

ALL GRADES ARE PRELIMINARY. If you hate a grade, feel free to make a case for me to change it, though remember that cases phrased respectfully using logic and facts are more likely to be viewed positively than those featuring insults and invective.

 

There is a lot of slack in the B-/C+/C range and players may move up and down depending on how my thinking progresses. Feel free to make comments, point out sleepers I may have missed, etc. Note that there is only a limited amount of space in the book, and the max I can do is 35-36 players per team.

[bannor10]

A lot of posters think Hendry should be fired because of his moves on the major league roster....I think he should be fired for his lack of progress in the minor leagues,,,,

 

Our system is horrible....we either draft or develop poorly probably both

[UK1679666180]

A lot of posters think Hendry should be fired because of his moves on the major league roster....I think he should be fired for his lack of progress in the minor leagues,,,,

 

Our system is horrible....we either draft or develop poorly probably both

 

Cubs fans should have faith that Wilken will be able to improve the farm system.

[the splendid splinter]

He's not as wild about Colvin as some people. My question is, other than Cubs employees, and maybe some groupies, who is wild about Colvin?

 

Baseball America and all the scouts they talked to.

 

But, wild about him? I guess I missed those reports. I remember people saying he's a nice prospect and all, but I don't remember anybody going gaga.

Seven managers of the Northwest League thought enough of him to vote him the #1 prospect in their league and according to reports from instructional league scouts thought he had even got better from the summer and his own people (managers, coaches, etc), so maybe he's on the rise.