Adalberto Mendez, Jake Fox, ...

[craig]

On one of the televised games last week, a friend said he saw Anderson Mejia and that he threw *very* hard. Didn't have gun numbers, but his read was that he looked to be throwing as hard or harder than Kerry Wood.

 

His take was that while he threw very hard, his fastball was also *very* straight. But that he did K a guy on a sharp little slider.

 

These observations are not inconsistent with what little I know, but that's not much.

 

But I'd like any info that some of you might have, scouting or impressions or otherwise.

 

What I know: He's already 25, pitched almost all of last year at Daytona, had really good numbers but in small reliever sample (2.03 ERA, 71 IP, 78/21 K/BB, 4 HR, 1.06 WHIP). He only first began pitching in 2003, at age 21, and has less than 250 total innings. I can't recall, but I believe he was a position switch guy, and may have played a year in outfield or catcher or something before switching to pitching. Earlier, it seemed the Cubs were rushing him along, and repeatedly trying him in closer-type role, with limited success. (He had a 4.6 career ERA entering last season). I do seem to recall reading a comment at Peoria that he threw pretty hard, and at Daytona back in 2005 (I think, when he had a 6.7 ERA there) that he'd gunned at 98 or something.

 

So, I'm hoping that he's a guy who, despite his age, has a big arm. My friend's observation was straight, straight, straight, so that's not too promising. But I'm hoping that his improvement last year is a step on the road to quality, that the slider is a pitch coming into it's own for him, that his control has improved a lot, and that having allowed 4 HR/71 IP, that the fastball maybe isn't quite so straight or at least isn't total HR-fodder.

 

Anyway, if anybody can fill in some info on him, I'd love to hear it.

 

Hopefully he'll be next year's Cherry.

[craig]

A followup question on Fox. He turns 25 in a couple months. He's had a bashing spring, this weekend, off Wuertz and Prior and dudes like that with nothing fastballs in BP.

 

Questions:

1. Does he have defensive upside as a 2nd-string catcher, or only as a 3rd-string catcher?

2. If he basically a fastball hitter, so his success in spring and against Howry/Prior type slowballs is consistent with his known strenghts?

3. Or is it possible that his hitting this spring reflects continued improvement as a hitter, and that he's just continued to get stronger and better?

4. In terms of utility positions for him, Obviously he's too slow and old and unathletic to pick up 3rd. How slow is he, and would he be as below-average defensively in LF and RF as he is at catcher, even if he did practice there a lot? I guess I'm asking, is there a chance that down the road, he might be a utility LF/RF/PH/DH/3rd catcher/3rd 1B? (I assume he's too short and too unathletic to be a very appealing defensive 1B).

5. For him to make it as a utility man, presumably he'd be kind of Todd Walker-like: a defensive liability at an position you'd consider playing him (probably much worse liability than Walker...). Is there any chance that his hitting will become *THAT* good that he could make it anyway? Is there a chance that he'll blossom into a guy who'd be the best DH option on the Cubs someday? Or such a good hitter that you'd *want* him backing up LF, defense and all?

6. Obviously his arm from outfield should be fine. How slow is he, really? Or is he not all that totally slow, and he might well be able to blossom into a merely poor but not horrible LF/RFer in time?

[Guest]

On your first question...Mejia or Mendez?

 

I saw Mendez pitch and would agree with the general assessment, though I was distracted by other things going on and only saw glimpses of him that game.

 

Mejia I haven't seen this spring.

[Guest]

On your second question, I still believe that Fox has the tools to stick behind the plate as a Zaun / LeCroy type of catcher.

 

On your question with his offense, I think we'll just have to see as the season progresses.

[craig]

On your first question...Mejia or Mendez?

 

I saw Mendez pitch and would agree with the general assessment, though I was distracted by other things going on and only saw glimpses of him that game.

 

Mejia I haven't seen this spring.

 

O, sorry, Mendez.