My Minor League Report March 21-27

[ChiefsVoice]

Here are my notes from watching games last week. I saw the minor leaguers on Thursday, Saturday & monday in game actions. Also watched them practice in the AM on those three days and Friday before going to the Cubs game. Just saw the Cubs on Sunday from the press box.

 

I really like the makeup of the team I saw playing for the Chiefs. Good balance on offense. hard throwers on the mound. Didnt make defensive mistakes. Remember these players were playing while I was there. no official roster yet. Valerio Heredia has moved to CF and can flat out fly. Looks like a Curtis Granderson/Juan Pierre type. Lopez, Lewis and Joseph played OF as well. Two days, Canzler was ill so Lewis played 1st as our only viable backup 1st baseman until the last day when Puello moved back down. Johnston, Camp and Lansford were also in the infield. I saw Clevenger, Canepa and Castillo behind the plate. Clevenger is just learning the position but has a very strong arm. Other guys who played for us while I was there included Tirado, Matulia, Mercedes and Rundle. But none of them were with us the whole time I was there.

 

Jose Ceda was impressive on the mound. topped out at 97. Wont surprise me if he is the Opening Day guy at Wisconsin. I didnt see Pawelek in game action. Or Papelbon. Our pitching staff was very Latino heavy until the last day I was there when Muldowney and Renshaw came back. A young kid named Hernandez threw very well the last game I saw but I think he will stay in Arizona. Cuevas may be the biggest pitcher I have seen in 5 years at this level but he is very raw and probably will stay there too. Samardzija threw 4 clean innings on Thursday until the rain came and was 95-96 and had sharper off-speed pitches.

 

Ryan Lilly, Roberto Sotolongo and Alfredo Francisco were all released while I was there. Matt Weber retired and is gonna go to Northern Illinois to play quarterback. Rayborn and Gregg also retired. Ryne Malone is hurt again, tweaked his knee and hopes to join a roster in early May.

 

Yusuf Carter looks great. Swing is shortened. He went deep, singled and stole two bases on Monday against Oakland. Ryan Norwood was also swinging a hot bat. Colvin was in CF for Daytona.

 

I spent some time chatting with quite a few guys, especially Gallagher, Patterson, Fuld, Estrada and our last two coaching staffs. Everyone loves the team they are sending to Peoria. Ryno was great with us. We got to know the entire staff over dinner. David Rosario and Kevin Green are working hard with the team now and the three seem to get along great and Nick Frangella our trainer said they are having a lot of fun out there.

 

Let me know what questions you guys have. I saw one AAA game to watch Patterson and mostly watched the two A teams that were always on fields next to each other. I think both Peoria and Daytona will contend. Daytona will mostly be our 2006 playoff team plus Samardzija, Colvin and either Spears/Chirinos and minus Veal.

 

They will get here Monday and then the fun begins!

[Outshined_One]

That's all very interesting to hear, thanks Nate!

 

How'd Colvin look in CF when you saw him out there?

[ChiefsVoice]

I was watching our game more so I didnt see a lot plus the first two days he was either not playing or at HoHoKam. I saw Colvin catch two outs that were relatively right to him. He was 1-for-3 witha walk the game i watched. was batting 3rd ahead of Norwood who was in his first game down from AA.

 

From what I heard though, they are loving Colvin in CF

[craig]

Thanks much.

 

Interesting that speedy Heredia has moved to outfield. He's a very patient hitter and very fast. 19. Has not hit much yet, though, and no power, yet.

 

"A young kid named Hernandez threw very well the last game I saw ...." I'm delighted to hear that. Did he look good in terms of velocity, or smoothness, or breaking ball? Hernandez is only 18, and went straight to mesa last year after signing, and pitched effectively at only 17. Cubs haven't had many pitchers who they sign and put straight in the U.S. at age 17, and who actually have success. I'm hoping he's a good one.

 

Did you by chance see Julio Castillo or Rafael Dolis, a couple of guys I understand throw very hard? (But were very wild last year.)

 

Infield: Was Lansford all at 3B? I'd heard he might have played some SS.

 

Last year we wee high on Phelps, but he wasn't very healthy last year. Any idea if he's healthy this spring?

 

Avery was great lat year. Have you heard anything to confirm that he'll still be in relief? For some reason I've wondered if he might not be an interesting rotation guy.

 

From what you saw or heard, any idea of who'll actually open with Peoria? Rundle and Huseby and Anderson are three I'm curious about.

 

Any guesses for rotation at this point?

[Quakers]

Thanks for the info!

 

No real surprises here.

 

I saw Colvin play for Boise last year. While I only saw him in left, I have no doubts that he will be an excellent CF for Daytona. The best defensive outfielder I have seen at Boise had been Walker, but now I think that Colvin was better. He does not quite have Walker's speed, but he gets an excellent jump, takes a great path, and has a superior arm. More than enough of an arm to play right. I think the only knock on him at the moment is how often he will get on base. This is the season when we will know the answer. I think that he will be a good one.

 

A couple of players that I will keep an eye on in Peoria include;

 

Alfred Joseph - He repeated at Boise last year, but he is still young. He was great in right last year. Strong and a very accurate arm. Not enough speed for center though. Showed that he could hit for average. My question is will he start hitting for power. If he is going to make it as a corner outfielder...

 

Mario Mercedes - He was young for the NWL last year. Very quick, good defensively, strong and accurate arm (not quite Muyco but who is), He knows how to get on base and can steal one for you too. My question is his size. He is young, so maybe his frame will start filling out. If he does and starts hitting for power he could be a very interesting prospect.

 

Bill Muldowney - He was the most interesting pitching prospect whose last name did not start with S or P. He didn't appear to have overpowering stuff, but the oppsition always had a tough time hitting against him.

 

Matt Camp - Played a decent, if not spectacular, CF for Boise last year. He showed he was a good scrappy hitter with speed. If he shows that he can handle second. He good be a very good prospect in the Theriot mold.

[Outshined_One]

I saw Colvin play for Boise last year. While I only saw him in left, I have no doubts that he will be an excellent CF for Daytona. The best defensive outfielder I have seen at Boise had been Walker, but now I think that Colvin was better. He does not quite have Walker's speed, but he gets an excellent jump, takes a great path, and has a superior arm. More than enough of an arm to play right. I think the only knock on him at the moment is how often he will get on base. This is the season when we will know the answer. I think that he will be a good one.

 

If he sticks at CF, then I think those OBP questions will go on the back-burner for the time being. Most people on this board were concerned with his production as a LF when he was drafted, which did not exactly sit well with most people. However, if he can do it as a defensively average/above average CF, then his value becomes that much higher.

 

I'm getting antsy for when the official minor league rosters are announced.

[YearofDaCubs]

Thanks for the review guys. very insightful.

[ChiefsVoice]

Thanks much.

 

Interesting that speedy Heredia has moved to outfield. He's a very patient hitter and very fast. 19. Has not hit much yet, though, and no power, yet.

 

"A young kid named Hernandez threw very well the last game I saw ...." I'm delighted to hear that. Did he look good in terms of velocity, or smoothness, or breaking ball? Hernandez is only 18, and went straight to mesa last year after signing, and pitched effectively at only 17. Cubs haven't had many pitchers who they sign and put straight in the U.S. at age 17, and who actually have success. I'm hoping he's a good one.

 

Did you by chance see Julio Castillo or Rafael Dolis, a couple of guys I understand throw very hard? (But were very wild last year.)

 

Infield: Was Lansford all at 3B? I'd heard he might have played some SS.

 

Last year we wee high on Phelps, but he wasn't very healthy last year. Any idea if he's healthy this spring?

 

Avery was great lat year. Have you heard anything to confirm that he'll still be in relief? For some reason I've wondered if he might not be an interesting rotation guy.

 

From what you saw or heard, any idea of who'll actually open with Peoria? Rundle and Huseby and Anderson are three I'm curious about.

 

Any guesses for rotation at this point?

 

1. Hernandez had good velocity and a LOT of movement.

2. I didn't see either of them pitch, but I know Castillo throws very hard.

3. All at 3rd. I think he has a chance to be the best defensive 3rd baseman in the MWL

4. Phelps is hurt. He was limping around when I talked to him. He was getting treatment and very anxious to get back at it.

5. Jody said that Avery has a chance to be their closer. It's either him or a guy they got in a trade that I didn't know but he was still on the AA roster.

6. I know our full roster but am sworn to secrece until late Sunday/early Monday. sorry!

[karenmac]

Nate,

 

Thanks so much for the insights - we'll look forward to seeing the "final" rosters once they become official.

 

Lilly and Sotolongo being released didn't surprise me much - Lilly always kind of seemed like a jerk. Sotolongo we didn't see in Peoria for more than about 10 seconds, if I remember right, but I always wondered why on earth the Cubs had held on to him. Rayborn retiring was a bit more of a surprise.

 

What exciting news about Matt Weber, though. That will make me root for Northern all the more. Glad to hear he's getting his education and trying something else.

 

Did you see Brandon Taylor at camp at all? He was in the media guide (but so was Gregg), but I don't remember seeing him while we were there at all. Am just curious on how his transition to pitcher is going.

[mg420]

Nate,

 

Thanks so much for the insights - we'll look forward to seeing the "final" rosters once they become official.

 

Lilly and Sotolongo being released didn't surprise me much - Lilly always kind of seemed like a jerk. Sotolongo we didn't see in Peoria for more than about 10 seconds, if I remember right, but I always wondered why on earth the Cubs had held on to him. Rayborn retiring was a bit more of a surprise.

 

What exciting news about Matt Weber, though. That will make me root for Northern all the more. Glad to hear he's getting his education and trying something else.

 

Did you see Brandon Taylor at camp at all? He was in the media guide (but so was Gregg), but I don't remember seeing him while we were there at all. Am just curious on how his transition to pitcher is going.

 

no offense but what does this have to do with anything? organizations only care about players who are jerks if they are not producing. there has to be another reason why he was let go.

[NCCubFan]

6. I know our full roster but am sworn to secrece until late Sunday/early Monday. sorry!

We'll just have to beat it out of you then. :lol:

[Chris]

I love threads like this one. It's what makes this site so awesome.

 

Carry on.

[Outshined_One]

6. I know our full roster but am sworn to secrece until late Sunday/early Monday. sorry!

We'll just have to beat it out of you then. :lol:

 

That or scour Nate's posts for info and any inadvertantly dropped hints. :D

[craig]

Thanks lots for feedback, Chief.

 

Hmm, we should put together some roster guesses.

 

I'll be way wrong, I'm sure, but just for fun.

 

Peoria:

Rotation:

Ceda

Pawelek

Muldowney

Renshaw

Huseby (very iffy, but I'm feeling hopeful...)

 

Other candidates? Castillo, Santo, Pina, one of the Dominican kids

 

Interesting arms that may show up, perhaps in relief: Castillo, Roquet, Dolis, Ruhlman, Mueller, Kopach,

 

Infield: Canzler, Camp, Johnston, Lansford as the definite starters. Utility subs, who knows. I wonder if Sammy Baez still around?

 

Catcher: Mercedes, Clevenger, and Canepa. Clevenger may be something of a wild guess, and I'm just being wishful thinking. The odds of a position-switch guy getting immediately put into regular game action in a full-season league may be a reach, maybe more likely that he'll stay back at extended spring. But as with Huseby, I'm hoping.

 

OF: Joseph, Lewis, and Heredia I'll guess. More wishful thinking, that Rundle is ready. A possibility could be that Yusuf would return, but I don't expect that. Peoria OF is kind of tricky, because Colvin and Camp were two of Boise's primary OFers, and neither of them will be in Peoria's OF.

 

Most likely some of the spots will be manned by some older more roster-fill prospects, rather than all the younger-we-hope-they-blossom-into-major-league prospects.

[ChiefsVoice]

6. I know our full roster but am sworn to secrece until late Sunday/early Monday. sorry!

We'll just have to beat it out of you then. :lol:

 

That or scour Nate's posts for info and any inadvertantly dropped hints. :D

 

 

we have a few surprises....and a few guys who were not on our team when i left on Tuesday. We have 6 guys who saw at least 1 inning in peoria in 2006 and 1 who saw action in 2005....And we have more foreign born pitchers than we have American born pitchers....thats all you are getting out of me!

 

Karen- Brandon is there. he is lifting and rehabbing non-stop.

[CUBZ99]

6. I know our full roster but am sworn to secrece until late Sunday/early Monday. sorry!

We'll just have to beat it out of you then. :lol:

 

That or scour Nate's posts for info and any inadvertantly dropped hints. :D

 

 

we have a few surprises....and a few guys who were not on our team when i left on Tuesday. We have 6 guys who saw at least 1 inning in peoria in 2006 and 1 who saw action in 2005....And we have more foreign born pitchers than we have American born pitchers....thats all you are getting out of me!

 

Karen- Brandon is there. he is lifting and rehabbing non-stop.

 

Nate, thanks for the great report. Did you see Suarez pitch in AZ? If you did, what can you tell us about his velocity, pitches, etc.

[Bear Cub]

When will the minor lge rosters be officially announced?

[texascub]

When will the minor lge rosters be officially announced?

 

Nate said that Peoria's roster will be announced either late Sunday, or Monday. I think that most of the rosters will be released around the same time.

[Chris]

When will the minor lge rosters be officially announced?

 

Nate said that Peoria's roster will be announced either late Sunday, or Monday. I think that most of the rosters will be released around the same time.

 

I can agree with that.

[Outshined_One]

Nate,

 

Am I alone in thinking that Italian-born Alessandro Maestri could be a pleasant surprise next season? He put together a pretty good season for Boise last year and I've read enough good things about him to think that he could have a future in the big leagues.

 

I also have a whole spiel about how investing money into undeveloped baseball markets like Europe would be a boon for the Cubs, but I'll hold off on that. Just know that I'm hoping Maestri makes the Cubs brass give thought to doing more of exactly that. :D

[kalarmac]

Thanks much.

 

4. Phelps is hurt. He was limping around when I talked to him. He was getting treatment and very anxious to get back at it.

 

I had the joy to sit down and talk with Phelps parents who were in Mesa when Karen & I were there. The way his dad was describing the injury was that Mike would be off for a few weeks to strengthen things up, then should be able to play through the season and have surgery in the off season. Glad to hear that he is anxious to get back on the field again.

 

Four days till dinner with the boys!

[Laura]

Thanks to everyone who posted updates -- I'm excited for the seasons to start!

[craig]

we have a few surprises....and a few guys who were not on our team when i left on Tuesday. We have 6 guys who saw at least 1 inning in peoria in 2006 and 1 who saw action in 2005....And we have more foreign born pitchers than we have American born pitchers....thats all you are getting out of me!....

 

Fun to guess.

 

2005 guy = Albert Joseph, OF

 

2006 returners: Probably:

Dylan Johnston (SS)

Heredia (CF)

 

The other four are probably from the following:

a) one of the catchers (Lalli?)

 

and or

 

b) pitchers. Joel Santo, Angulo Jiminez, Jon Mueller, Roger Evenson, and Marco Carillo all pitched at Peoria last year. I'm guessing several of them will be on the roster this week, . Given that you mentioned the staff is heavily foreign born, probably at least a couple from Santo, Jiminez, and Carillo.

 

Heh, given that you said "foreign born" but didn't say "Latin", I'll also guess that Maestri made it.

[kalarmac]

b) pitchers. Joel Santo, Angulo Jiminez, Jon Mueller, Roger Evenson, and Marco Carillo all pitched at Peoria last year. I'm guessing several of them will be on the roster this week, . Given that you mentioned the staff is heavily foreign born, probably at least a couple from Santo, Jiminez, and Carillo.

 

Heh, given that you said "foreign born" but didn't say "Latin", I'll also guess that Maestri made it.

 

Evenson will not be with the organization this year. Mueller was working out with Daytona the whole time we were there, but it doesn't seem to matter where pitchers work out in spring Training, so he is a possibility. Only a day or two now to see :)

[Wrigley Rat]

we have a few surprises....and a few guys who were not on our team when i left on Tuesday. We have 6 guys who saw at least 1 inning in peoria in 2006 and 1 who saw action in 2005....And we have more foreign born pitchers than we have American born pitchers....thats all you are getting out of me!....

 

Fun to guess.

 

2005 guy = Albert Joseph, OF

 

2006 returners: Probably:

Dylan Johnston (SS)

Heredia (CF)

 

The other four are probably from the following:

a) one of the catchers (Lalli?)

 

and or

 

b) pitchers. Joel Santo, Angulo Jiminez, Jon Mueller, Roger Evenson, and Marco Carillo all pitched at Peoria last year. I'm guessing several of them will be on the roster this week, . Given that you mentioned the staff is heavily foreign born, probably at least a couple from Santo, Jiminez, and Carillo.

 

Heh, given that you said "foreign born" but didn't say "Latin", I'll also guess that Maestri made it.

 

I read that differently, but probably incorrectly. I assumed ChiefsVoice was completely referring to the pitching staff by saying "one inning". Here is the pitching staff I came up with: Jose Ceda, Jose Pina, Joel Santo, Marco Carrillo, Todd Blackford, Rocky Roquet, Fabian Jimenez-Angulo, Edgar Omana, Alessandro Maestri, Mike Billek, Mark Pawelek, Jon Mueller.