Minor League Rosters, Pawelek in relief

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Based on the AA roster, I'm wondering where Alan Rick is going to land. Assuming that Muyco and Reed are both at Daytona, and that Rick's bat had not been bad at the end of last season, I'm wondering where he will land. As 3rd catcher in Daytona? I'll be anxious to see the rest of the rosters soon!

 

Daytona hasn't posted their roster and it's so frustrating!

 

Nate has been good to us about Peoria, the Smokies roster is out and we can figure out Iowa's roster pretty easily.

[Wrigley Rat]

Based on the AA roster, I'm wondering where Alan Rick is going to land. Assuming that Muyco and Reed are both at Daytona, and that Rick's bat had not been bad at the end of last season, I'm wondering where he will land. As 3rd catcher in Daytona? I'll be anxious to see the rest of the rosters soon!

With the arrival of Koyie Hill at AAA,catcher Tony Richie has been demoted from AAA to AA, C-1B Alan Rick has been demoted from AA to Daytona, catcher Blake Lalli has been demoted from Daytona to Peoria, and Steve Clevenger (who is being converted from 2B to catcher) has been sent to the EXST group (Boise/Mesa cadre) from Peoria.

 

http://mvn.com/mlb-cubs/2007/03/29/hoff-power-strikes-again/

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Official Smokies roster is out:

 

Hmm, the I-Cubs roster also lists Chris Walker.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Official Smokies roster is out:

 

Hmm, the I-Cubs roster also lists Chris Walker.

 

Yeah, I saw that earlier today and didn't think it was accurate. I think they're just taking stabs with players they know will be in the minor leagues. Carmen Pignatiello is also at AA, Adam Harben is out for the season injured, Mike Mahoney retired and is now a coach, Jason Anderson was cut and Mike Kinkade is out injured too.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

http://www.peoriachiefs.com/news/current/index.html?article_id=437

 

The infield should be among the strongest in the Midwest League in 2007. Russ Canzler anchors first base while Matt Camp will start at second. Jared Lansford mans the hot corner while returnee Dylan Johnston plays shortstop and utility infielder Jonathon Mota rounds out the infield.

...

The outfield features three players who have worn the Chiefs uniform before along with two newcomers. Yusuf Carter, Valerio Heredia and Alfred Joseph have all spent time in Peoria while DJ Lewis and Andrew Lopez are first time Chiefs.

...

The Chiefs start the season with three catchers Matt Canepa, Blake Lalli and Wellington Castillo.

...

The Opening Day roster consists of 12 pitchers although not all five starters are set in stone. Jose Ceda, Rafael Dolis, Billy Muldowney, Mark Pawelek, Jose Pina, Julio Castillo and Marco Carrillo are all in the mix to start games and Al Albuquerque could also be in the rotation.

...

The bullpen will consist of three pitchers from the above list along with Alessandro Maestri, Jeremy Papelbon, Jayson Ruhlman and closer Rocky Roquet.

[Laura]

Daytona Broadcaster Derek Ingram has a Spring Training Chat with Alan Rick posted on the Daytona website.

[craig]

Still waiting on the Daytona roster. But with Tenn above and Peoria below announced, we can maybe do some guessing.

 

A couple of surprises to me/comments on Tennessee's:

1. Hart in rotation. He's the dude we got for Bynum. I hadn't expected him for rotation, or realilzed that he was an ACC all-star in 2004.... as a 1B!

2. I'd expected Holdzkom there, not so.

3. I hadn't expected either Mueller or Reinhard there, and I'd hoped that Reinhard would be pitching rotation wherever he got assigned.

 

Daytona speculation: I'd thought both Reinhard and Berg might be in the Daytona rotation derby. And that Mueller in the pen.

 

So, who's left unaccounted for:

Atkins, Samardz, and Taylor obviously for rotation, if healthy.

 

Petrick, if healthy, whether bullpen or rotation. Yepez, Blackford, Billek, Estrada, and Grant Johnson all in the pool of possibilities, whether for rotation or bullpen. Odd that Billek, who was awful last year and hasn't shown any velocity or otherwise desirable stuff may still be in the mix. A friend who was at Fitch said that Billek was actually working with an "A" group (Atkins, Veal, Huseby, Petrick, Suarez, Castillo, all good-arm serious guys....)

 

Guys who, if they are healthy and make it, are defintiely relief: Avery, Cooper, Holdzkom, Blevins.

 

Reed, Muyco, and Rick in the catcher pool.

 

Norwood 1B. Reynolds probably involved to some degree at 3B. Sammy Baez was included in BA's top 30, and isn't at Peoria. If he's healthy and still with the org, I'm guessing he might be at SS. Valdez maybe in left? Colvin in center.

 

Assuming Baez, Daytona could have Baez, Colvin, and Reed from BA's top 30 list. With Samardz, Petrick, Atkins, and Taylor as four pitchers from the top-30.

[Laura]

Derek said the Daytona roster would be up "later this afternoon." Samardzija is the only one listed so far.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Derek said the Daytona roster would be up "later this afternoon." Samardzija is the only one listed so far.

 

Yay!

 

Daytona speculation: I'd thought both Reinhard and Berg might be in the Daytona rotation derby. And that Mueller in the pen.

 

So, who's left unaccounted for:

Atkins, Samardz, and Taylor obviously for rotation, if healthy.

 

Petrick, if healthy, whether bullpen or rotation. Yepez, Blackford, Billek, Estrada, and Grant Johnson all in the pool of possibilities, whether for rotation or bullpen. Odd that Billek, who was awful last year and hasn't shown any velocity or otherwise desirable stuff may still be in the mix. A friend who was at Fitch said that Billek was actually working with an "A" group (Atkins, Veal, Huseby, Petrick, Suarez, Castillo, all good-arm serious guys....)

 

Guys who, if they are healthy and make it, are defintiely relief: Avery, Cooper, Holdzkom, Blevins.

 

Reed, Muyco, and Rick in the catcher pool.

 

Norwood 1B. Reynolds probably involved to some degree at 3B. Sammy Baez was included in BA's top 30, and isn't at Peoria. If he's healthy and still with the org, I'm guessing he might be at SS. Valdez maybe in left? Colvin in center.

 

Assuming Baez, Daytona could have Baez, Colvin, and Reed from BA's top 30 list. With Samardz, Petrick, Atkins, and Taylor as four pitchers from the top-30.

 

I agree with you on most of what you say for the position players. Maybe Puello at third base. In terms of the rotation, I'd guess it'll be Samardzija-Atkins-Taylor-Petrick-Billek with Avery and Cooper as the main relievers.

 

Also, Jesus Yepez was cut late in the offseason.

[Wrigley Rat]

A few guys have been added to the Daytona website:

 

Mitch Atkins

Matt Avery

Todd Blackford

Jerry Blevins

Michael Cooper

Jesse Estrada

Grant Johnson

Scott Koerber

Jeff Samardzija

[craig]

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070402&content_id=199902&vkey=pr_t451&fext=.jsp&sid=t451

 

Iowa roster. The most interesting aspect is that Marmol will be in the rotation rather than in relief. I'm very pleased to see that. And I think it makes sense, given the problems that the Cubs may have.

 

Opening day starter: your ace prospect JR Mathes! Joining Mathes in the rotation are Marmol and hot roster-fill prospects O'Malley, Les Walrond, and soft-tosser Randy Wells. Pen has Cherry, Rapada, and a handful of old veteran minor-league free agent roster-filler. That could be one really, really bad pitching staff.

 

Heh, at one point I'd thought Iowa might have a really exciting rotation with Guzman, Marshall, Marmol, Mateo, Ryu, and Shaver being six valid major-league prospects, so many rotation pitchers that Marmol might logically be bumped to closer. Marmol, Rapada, Cherry, and Novoa making a dynamite bullpen too.

 

But, that's the way it goes with injuries. Marshall on DL, Mateo on DL, Shaver on DL, Wood on DL which indirectly cost Iowa Guzman, and Ryu having gotten dumped (because we supposedly had too much high pitching?) So instead line it up with Mathes, O'Malley, and Walrond, and enjoy.

[Wrigley Rat]

http://www.daytonacubs.com/team-roster.php

 

Daytona Roster is nearly complete.

[karenmac]

Here are the rosters in one nice neat page:

http://karen.mackenzie.org/baseball/CubMinorLeagueRosters2007.htm

I'll finish linking names to the minor league stats pages tomorrow or Wednesday, probably. Hopefully this will help as you're getting to learn which names go with which teams

Edited April 3, 2007 by karenmac

[RichHillIsABeast]

Here are the rosters in one nice neat page:

http://karen.mackenzie.org/baseball/CubMinorLeagueRosters04022007.htm

I'll finish linking names to the minor league stats pages tomorrow or Wednesday, probably. Hopefully this will help as you're getting to learn which names go with which teams

 

So Colvin did skip Peoria. Nice.

[craig]

Some names not on any rosters: Hagerty (well, I hadn't seen him on a release list, and he's still kind of an interesting story), Billek (DL, released, extended spring training?), Holdzkom, Sammy Baez.

 

I wonder who the 4th and 5th starters at Daytona will be. Petrick one of them, I hope. Blackford (sp?)? Santo? Estrada? Maybe even Grant Johnson? Unless something bizarrely good has happened with Grant johnson's arm, I'd have maybe prefered to keep Berg or Reinhard back at Daytona. Santo is probably the only one of those guys with any arm.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

Some names not on any rosters: Hagerty (well, I hadn't seen him on a release list, and he's still kind of an interesting story), Billek (DL, released, extended spring training?), Holdzkom, Sammy Baez.

 

I wonder who the 4th and 5th starters at Daytona will be. Petrick one of them, I hope. Blackford (sp?)? Santo? Estrada? Maybe even Grant Johnson? Unless something bizarrely good has happened with Grant johnson's arm, I'd have maybe prefered to keep Berg or Reinhard back at Daytona. Santo is probably the only one of those guys with any arm.

 

1. Holdzkom has been put on the DL; don't know the nature of his injury.

2. Petrick is heading to the bullpen.

3. Haven't heard a peep regarding Hagerty.

4. I'll be charitable and say that determining the placement of Johnson is not regarded as a priority by the Cubs. Worst high-level pick since Cunningham?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Arizona Phil on Pawelek:

 

Pawelek has been working out of the bullpen all ST. He just throws way too many pitches per inning to start a game, and his command has been terrible.

 

If he was anybody else, he’d start the year at EXST. But since he was a #1 pick, the Cubs are trying to challenge him by letting him begin the season at Peoria and work his problems out in “long relief,” But I doubt that he will be used as a rotation starter there anytime soon, although if he pitches OK out of the pen and improves his command and pitch efficiency, he could be moved into the Chiefs starting rotation at some point. He definitely has talent. He’s just very raw.

[RichHillIsABeast]

*&(^!!!!! :x

 

I can say "*&(^" right?

 

Pawelek has 'bust' written all over him. If only Gallagher had his natural ability.

[Outshined_One]

He got drafted out of high school less than two years ago and has no full season experience under his belt. He still isn't old enough to get into a bar.

 

I'd obviously love to see Pawelek become a top-flight pitcher. However, setbacks like this won't even come close to make me give thought to him being a bust. If he flops in his first full season, I might become a bit worried. You have to remember that it pays to be patient with prospects.

 

It is discouraging to hear these reports on him, but you have to remember that he is still young and still has quite a bit of talent which he has time to harness. Remind me, how long did it take Rich Hill to put it together? I seem to recall a pitcher drafted out of college whose spike curveball made batters, umpires, and fans in the first few rows of the stands quite nervous.

 

I know we want everyone in our system to fly through the system, come up to the Cubs, and be All Stars immediately. However, that is an incredibly unrealistic point of view to take. You might be able to make a reasonable assessment on a guy after seeing him in action over a full season or two, but we have not come to that point with Pawelek yet. When we do, then we can start rationally discussing whether the Cubs made the right move in drafting him.

[RichHillIsABeast]

He got drafted out of high school less than two years ago and has no full season experience under his belt. He still isn't old enough to get into a bar.

 

I'd obviously love to see Pawelek become a top-flight pitcher. However, setbacks like this won't even come close to make me give thought to him being a bust. If he flops in his first full season, I might become a bit worried. You have to remember that it pays to be patient with prospects.

 

It is discouraging to hear these reports on him, but you have to remember that he is still young and still has quite a bit of talent which he has time to harness. Remind me, how long did it take Rich Hill to put it together? I seem to recall a pitcher drafted out of college whose spike curveball made batters, umpires, and fans in the first few rows of the stands quite nervous.

 

I know we want everyone in our system to fly through the system, come up to the Cubs, and be All Stars immediately. However, that is an incredibly unrealistic point of view to take. You might be able to make a reasonable assessment on a guy after seeing him in action over a full season or two, but we have not come to that point with Pawelek yet. When we do, then we can start rationally discussing whether the Cubs made the right move in drafting him.

 

Well, I don't know what the numbers are, but Hill always had the curve and the strikeouts (UMich grad here - watched him back in the day when he was frustratingly brilliant/awful). The only thing he lacked was control - mostly spotting his fastball (still got Ks on the erratic curve). That's what turned the corner for him. Some guys do develop late, I'll give you that (not that Pawelek would be late if he turned it on now).

 

I agree with you that the jury is still out on Pawelek, but it doesn't look good so far. He has makeup issues and seemingly hasn't impressed the org this season. Is he done for? Of course not, but it doesn't look promising.

 

The reports on Pawelek is that his stuff has regressed, not progressed. That's not good at all.

 

Guys like Gallagher max their ability and prove everyone wrong. Guys like Pawelek seemingly rest on their laurels. It's too bad we can't find a guy with Pawelek's natural skills and Gallagher's drive.

[Quakers]

Sounds like Mercedes is at Ex ST. Not too surprising. He is still young and should excel at Boise.

[Mephistopheles]

so whats the deal with ryan harvey

[karenmac]

so whats the deal with ryan harvey

 

hurt. again.

 

see this thread: http://www.northsidebaseball.com/PremiumForum/viewtopic.php?t=39345

[don_kessinger_was_good]

so whats the deal with ryan harvey

 

Um, I don't follow tennis much--well, at all--so I don't know; who's the babe in your avatar? Holy smokes.

[karenmac]

just got back from the Peoria "Meet the Chiefs" dinner that the booster club does when the guys get into town. Kevin Green went around to each and every table and introduced himself - very cool. I sat next to Alex Maestri and across from Jeremy Papelbon. Both super nice guys - my husband was sitting next to Yusuf Carter, Dylan Johnston, Mark Pawelek and DJ Lewis. Pretty sure the conversation over there had to do with Mark buying this van he saw and painting it like the Mystery Machine from Scooby Doo. Anyway, the food was good as was the company.

 

In his comments to the crowd, Sandberg was excited about being in Peoria and sounded genuinely thrilled with the talent that he got for this team. Their spring training record was 11-3, so let's hope that bodes well for the upcoming season.

 

The guys were practicing with the lights on after dinner, so spent a few minutes outside watching drills. Valerio Heredia looks super in center - he wasn't practicing there when we were in AZ a few weeks back, but his arm is super from center to 3rd, for instance - either 1 hop or no hopped it there...otherwise, it was kind of hard to tell who was who, as it got cold here while we were in eating. It was probably 60 when I went in, but 45 by the time practice started. Everyone had fleece on, and a few had changed numbers from what was printed on the initial roster Nate was kind enough to provide. Lots of media types on hand to get footage (as well as interviews, I would guess) so those of you in the Peoria area should be on the lookout for something in the sports segments coming soon.