2007 Opening Day Assignments

[don_kessinger_was_good]

I believe the Cubs signed Les Walrond to a minor league contract, he's available as AAA or AA filler.

 

Chadd Blasko; finished? Luke Hagerty too?

 

Piggy could start in Iowa, but it looks like he's been moved permanently to the bullpen--good thing for his chances of ever making the big leagues.

 

I think Campusano gets returned to us; AAA or AA?

[RammyFanny]

I believe the Cubs signed Les Walrond to a minor league contract, he's available as AAA or AA filler.

 

Chadd Blasko; finished? Luke Hagerty too?

 

Piggy could start in Iowa, but it looks like he's been moved permanently to the bullpen--good thing for his chances of ever making the big leagues.

 

I think Campusano gets returned to us; AAA or AA?

This is completely random, but I used to be real good friends with Piggy's little bro (Tony). I know I have a autograph or two around from when we found out the Cubs drafted him. Definately would be cool to see him up in the big leagues...

[Jehrico]

Anyone hopeful that Haggerty can ever get far enough along after the TJS and become a viable prospect again?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I have no hope for Luke or Chadd.

[NCCubFan]

Anyone hopeful that Haggerty can ever get far enough along after the TJS and become a viable prospect again?

Hopeful, yes. But I think that's much more wishful thinking than reality. His TJS has been several years ago now; I'd think that he would have recovered by now if he's going to.

[Guest]

I have no hope for Luke or Chadd.

Looking back at that draft and the hopes I had coming out of it make me very sad.

[craig]

Thanks for the nice projections and the good analysis.

 

I'd prefer to see Marmol stay in rotation, myself, just for the innings, and because he's got the best stuff of that bunch. If his control took another step forward, he'd have a lot more value in trade as a big-stuff can-pop-into-rotation-now guy than as a stup reliever. Probably his control will never be rotation-caliber, but I know I thought that about Zambrano at one point also. I'd be pretty surprised if Wells was in rotation. He's not going to start in the majors, so if he's viewed as a prospect, join the bullpen, randy. My guess is some Walrond-type vet is in Iowa rotation. Or O'Malley or somebody.

 

I definitely think Gallagher should start at AA, barring an incredible camp. As Tim noted, his control was pretty rough at AA. And with Marquis and Lilly signed, Hill established now, Prior and Miller, Cotts, and Marshall/Guzman/Mateo/Marmol all ahead of him, there is no urgency with him. Let him do his AA thing, and hopefully sustain the velocity gains he made last year while reducing the walks.

 

I'm interested in shaver. The account was that his chips was a minor thing, shouldn't keep him out till December much less May. He has some nice movement, but not so much velocity. If he showed up with a clean elbow and an extra 3 mph, he might suddenly be for serious.

 

AAA and AA both look like pretty interesting rotations, potentially very strong combinations of both potential but also performance.

 

As Tim noted, Iowa could have a very strong pen. Novoa, Marmol, Cherry, Wells (RH) and Rapada, Campusano, Pigs (LH) could be very good.

 

A-ball scene looks pretty unclear. Not enough good prospects to fill two A-rotations, and of course you never know who catches somebody's eye in spring, or who wasn't 100% last year, or whatever. Would like to see Renshaw and Muldowney in there, and effective. Would like to see Avery pitch rotation, although that isn't likely, they rarely move a guy who has any success in relief back into rotation barring forcing circumstances. Would like to get Downs and Billek off the map. Whether Taylor stays or promotes could be interesting. Would like to see somebody improve in some substantial way.

[questionmarkgrace]

I went to highschool with Grant Johnson and from what Ive heard, He'll be starting next year. I guess after Harbden took his spot in the AFL he went to instructs where he made a change in his mechanics. He was back to throwing in the mid 90's again. Last season his velocity dropped and thats why he was in the pen. But even if his velocity is back he needs to work on his secondary stuff because his fast ball has never really had a lot of movement. He's also getting old for his level and 07 is going to be a make or break year for him. But there is the update.

[Guest]

I went to highschool with Grant Johnson and from what Ive heard, He'll be starting next year. I guess after Harbden took his spot in the AFL he went to instructs where he made a change in his mechanics. He was back to throwing in the mid 90's again. Last season his velocity dropped and thats why he was in the pen. But even if his velocity is back he needs to work on his secondary stuff because his fast ball has never really had a lot of movement. He's also getting old for his level and 07 is going to be a make or break year for him. But there is the update.

Thanks! As important as the change in velocity for Grant will be getting the bite back on the slider. If you have anything to report there, it would be appreciated.

[questionmarkgrace]

Thats really all Ive heard. Though I am pretty sure his slider hasn't been the same since he had arm surgery in college. Its too bad because he was awesome in the NCAA tournement his freshman year. Maybe the slider with be better with the change in mechanics.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Thats really all Ive heard. Though I am pretty sure his slider hasn't been the same since he had arm surgery in college. Its too bad because he was awesome in the NCAA tournement his freshman year. Maybe the slider with be better with the change in mechanics.

 

I have read and heard exactly the same about Grant's slider - it hasn't been the same since the surgery.

[craig]

We'll see. But that's very interesting and encouraging news about the velocity. If his slider isn't that sharp, it's not that sharp. But it's a lot easier to find a way with a 94 mph fastball than when you slider is soft and you're throwing 88.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

Suppose Samardzija picks baseball, and the Cubs draft Brackman. Where does each start the year? Peoria and Boise, respectively?

[Guest]

Suppose Samardzija picks baseball, and the Cubs draft Brackman. Where does each start the year? Peoria and Boise, respectively?

Samardzija would likely start in Peoria.

 

Brackman would depend on how polished he looks and how quickly he signs. Boise would be the most likely destination, but he could start at Peoria if he shows enough advancement.

[Mephistopheles]

Brackman is a lot like Samardzija in development. He's very very raw. I really don't see the Cubs drafting pitching even if Wieters is gone. They'll probably do what they usually do when they have a top pick: Blow it out on some raw powerful, but no plate discipline Florida high school outfielder: Michael Burgess from Hillborough HS.

[NorthsideAvenger]

Brackman is a lot like Samardzija in development. He's very very raw. I really don't see the Cubs drafting pitching even if Wieters is gone. They'll probably do what they usually do when they have a top pick: Blow it out on some raw powerful, but no plate discipline Florida high school outfielder: Michael Burgess from Hillborough HS.

 

Are you kidding me, kctigers? With the Cubs in a "win now" mode plus Tim Wilken as part of the org, if there is ONE thing the Cubs won't target is that RAW HS target with the 3rd pick. I think it will come down to either David Price and Wieters with the #3 pick.

[Mephistopheles]

Considering how desolate the farm system is for hitting and how jammed up it is in arms, I don't think that will happen. If Price becomes elite in the Prior status, that's another thing.

[craig]

I don't agree with either of these views. I don't think they are in the least jammed up with pitching. Veal is the only notably high-ceiling pitcher they've got, and the low minors especially is thin on pitching.

 

If there's a guy they think is the best guy available, and he's a pitcher, I think they'll take him. If anything, I'd guess they'd prefer a pitcher to a hitter.

 

On the other hand, I think it's entirely reasonable that they'll take whatever they think is BPA. If that's a pitcher, or a hitter, a college guy or a HS guy. I don't think any "win now" urgency is going to bias what Wilken drafts. He's drafted HS plenty often, and if there is a HS guy he likes better than Brackman or whomever, I expect he'll draft HS again.

 

I do agree that if he has the equivalent of a full spring training, that Sam would go to Peoria. And that Brackman, given how raw he is currently, would almost certainly open in short-season ball.

 

My guess is that Brackman's status could be fairly fluid this spring. As great as some of his stuff may scout, it's also true that he had an ERA of 6.35 last spring (small sample) with a WHIP of 2.0. http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/B/Andrew-Brackman.shtml College hitters didn't have trouble getting hits off of him last spring. The scouting projection, of course, is that those results don't raise concerns, it was a small sample, he may have switched late from basketball to baseball and not been in pitching shape, and his mechanics were unrefined. So the assumption is that if he's all baseball this spring, that focus and a better sample size should tell a truer story about what he can do.

 

Most likely, after scouts see what they see this spring, and the results, nobody will give a hoot about 28 innings last spring.

 

But, there's also a chance that he could slip fast. Scouts are scouts, for sure. But I've gotta assume results can influence scouting projections to some degree. If he comes back with a 4+ ERA next spring, I wouldn't be surprised to see scouts start to mention not just the gush-gush positive projections, but also to begin mentioning some concerns.

 

All I'm saying is that Brackman may well have the stuff to be a good top-3 pick and to blossom into a great major-league pitcher. But I think his lack of demonstrated success might make him a guy who, if he doesn't demonstrate some actual on-field success this season, might slip much lower than #3.