Jim Callis of BA on the Cubs Young Guys

[CaliforniaRaisin]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/askba/264916.html

 

As a big Cubs fan, I find it interesting just how valuable their farm system has been to their success this year. I think manager Lou Piniella’s willingness to play the young players is a significant part of it. While the Cubs system wasn’t very highly rated going into 2007, I’m interested at how some of the key contributors weren’t top prospects as ranked by Baseball America over the past couple of years, or anybody else for that matter. Is this just happenstance, under-projection, surprising improvements, or an organizational understanding of what replacement-level players are?

 

Michael Cross

Decatur, Ill.

 

Coming into the season, we put the Cubs at No. 18 on our farm-system rankingsPremium. And while they have gotten some key contributions from their farmhands this year, I wouldn't really say that any of them have really exceeded expectations, with the exception of righthander Carlos Marmol.

 

Marmol has been dynamic as a middle reliever, with a 1.22 ERA, .167 opponent average and 94 strikeouts in 67 innings. He didn’t count as part of the farm rankings because he exhausted his rookie eligibility in 2006. His strong arm earned him a No. 10 ranking on our Cubs Top 30 in the 2006 Prospect Handbook, but no one saw him being this good. Moving from the rotation (he posted a 5.99 ERA as a starter for Chicago last year) to the bullpen has helped his fastball and slider play up and has made his need for a changeup less glaring.

 

Rich Hill and Sean Marshall also weren't part of our 2007 talent rankings because they pitched too much in the majors in 2006. Both of those lefthanders have performed as expected, with Hill a solid middle-of-the-rotation starter and Marshall a promising if inconsistent back-of-the-rotation guy.

 

Shortstop Ryan Theriot and second baseman Mike Fontenot have injected some much needed energy into Chicago's lineup, but neither projected as a long-term regular coming into 2007 and I don't believe either does now. Theriot's numbers are down to .273/.333/.356 and I still see him as more of a utilityman. Fontenot has served as a platoon second baseman and has cooled off considerably since batting .397/.422/.679 in June.

 

Outfielder Felix Pie has ranked as the system's No. 1 prospect for two years running, but as a fifth outfielder, he hasn't gotten a chance to show much of what he can do. Catcher Geovany Soto earned Pacific Coast League MVP honors in a breakout Triple-A season that was more than we expected. But he has just 43 big league at-bats.

 

So while the Cubs appear headed for the playoffs, I wouldn't say it's because of major contributions from farmhands who weren't highly regarded. Their nearly $300 million spending spree in the offseason has been much more of a factor.

[bhogg]

I'm about sick and damned tired of reading "the cubs spent 300 million last off season." THEY DIDNT. They will if all these contracts are fulfilled over the next 7 years or so.

 

Oh, way to go young guys :)

[NewUserName]

I think he is pretty accurate with his column. I think some of the farm guys who are contributing, its more of a matter that they are better than the Neifis, Macias, Bynums, Mabrys. Not that they are really good everyday players.

[Banedon]

So while the Cubs appear headed for the playoffs, I wouldn't say it's because of major contributions from farmhands who weren't highly regarded. Their nearly $300 million spending spree in the offseason has been much more of a factor.

 

I have no problem with most of this, but to say that Theriot or Fontenot weren't major contributions, no matter how much they've cooled off, I think is wrong. They both had some hot streaks that helped keep the Cubs afloat and get back into this race during the middle summer months. They've come back down to earth, and fortunately it's been when the big boppers finally started coming around.

 

Now that said, I don't think BA underranked these guys...they just had some conveniently timed hot streaks.

[jersey cubs fan]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/askba/264916.html

 

Their nearly $300 million spending spree in the offseason has been much more of a factor.

 

I have to side with Hendry on this one. I'm sick of that stupid $300 million spending spree line.

 

THE CHICAGO CUBS DIDN'T SPEND $300 MILLION THIS PAST OFFSEASON.

 

 

 

Although I do agree that it's not really a farm system outperforming expectations.

[CuseCubFan69]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/askba/264916.html

 

Their nearly $300 million spending spree in the offseason has been much more of a factor.

 

I have to side with Hendry on this one. I'm sick of that stupid $300 million spending spree line.

 

THE CHICAGO CUBS DIDN'T SPEND $300 MILLION THIS PAST OFFSEASON.

 

 

 

Although I do agree that it's not really a farm system outperforming expectations.

 

Right, just given a chance to play.

[Tracer Bullet]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/askba/264916.html

 

Their nearly $300 million spending spree in the offseason has been much more of a factor.

 

I have to side with Hendry on this one. I'm sick of that stupid $300 million spending spree line.

 

THE CHICAGO CUBS DIDN'T SPEND $300 MILLION THIS PAST OFFSEASON.

 

 

 

Although I do agree that it's not really a farm system outperforming expectations.

 

Right, just given a chance to play.

 

It's not really that either. I think Callis is right on. Fontenot and Theriot each had 1 hot month that did help us, but neither was particularly helpful the other 4-5 months of the season. Soto and Marmol have been really good, but Callis was right on regarding those two as well.

 

If you're referring to Hill, Marshall, and Marmol getting a chance to play, I agree. But it's certainly not a case of the "farm system" guys getting a chance to play that led us to playoff contention. It's Hill, Lilly, Z (at times), Soriano, ARam, DLee.

[CuseCubFan69]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/askba/264916.html

 

Their nearly $300 million spending spree in the offseason has been much more of a factor.

 

I have to side with Hendry on this one. I'm sick of that stupid $300 million spending spree line.

 

THE CHICAGO CUBS DIDN'T SPEND $300 MILLION THIS PAST OFFSEASON.

 

 

 

Although I do agree that it's not really a farm system outperforming expectations.

 

Right, just given a chance to play.

 

It's not really that either. I think Callis is right on. Fontenot and Theriot each had 1 hot month that did help us, but neither was particularly helpful the other 4-5 months of the season. Soto and Marmol have been really good, but Callis was right on regarding those two as well.

 

If you're referring to Hill, Marshall, and Marmol getting a chance to play, I agree. But it's certainly not a case of the "farm system" guys getting a chance to play that led us to playoff contention. It's Hill, Lilly, Z (at times), Soriano, ARam, DLee.

 

Those hot months are better than a Lenny Harris or the like that Baker would have had out there hoping they would break out of their slump some time. imo Fontenot wouldn't have had many AB's at all. I do think the impact guys are the reason they are first place, don't get me wrong.

[moorecg]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/askba/264916.html

 

Their nearly $300 million spending spree in the offseason has been much more of a factor.

 

I have to side with Hendry on this one. I'm sick of that stupid $300 million spending spree line.

 

THE CHICAGO CUBS DIDN'T SPEND $300 MILLION THIS PAST OFFSEASON.

 

 

 

Although I do agree that it's not really a farm system outperforming expectations.

 

I wonder if for the next 7 years they'll give the Cubs credit for working miracles by spending absolutely nothing....I mean, you know, since they spent the whole 300 million this year.

[TruffleShuffle]

he forgot...

 

geovany soto

[JonnyRed]

I'm about sick and damned tired of reading "the cubs spent 300 million last off season." THEY DIDNT. They will if all these contracts are fulfilled over the next 7 years or so.

 

Oh, way to go young guys :)

 

I agree wholeheartedly. You don't hear about any other team's future payroll expenses. I prefer to think that the Cubs have far outperformed the Sox despite the similar payrolls this year!

[TruffleShuffle]

Marshall a promising if inconsistent

 

hahahaha awesome