Cubs Top Prospect Lists (BA top 30, Sickels top 21, BP - 11)

[Guest]

Maestri was supposed to go to Tennessee for the playoffs but his Team Italy commitment meant Ceda went instead. Even if Maestri starts next season at Daytona, I think he'll get bumped up quickly to Tennessee if he can handle himself at high-A. I found it interesting that BA thought Ceda might start next year at Tennessee. He obviously has one problem that is keeping him from the big leagues right now and facing hitters who are more likely to take his wild pitches (and not be scared) would be the best bet for him to improve his control.

[craig]

I don't get what Craig wrote when he said Vitters hasn't hit at any level he has been at but yet he's #1? I suppose I'd like to know what hasn't hit means.

 

He had four stops last year: HS team, Mesa Cubs, Boise Cubs, and AFL instrux games. He hit .390 in HS; anytime a guy doesn't hit .400 or better in HS, I don't think he's hitting really well. He hit 0.067 in 7 games at Mesa; in 7 games at Boise he hit .190. I don't have stats for what he did in instrux, but based on games that Arizona Phil reported on, Vitters again had relatively few hits.

 

Each are small samples, the last one lacks actual statistical record, there are excuses for each (was sick during spring, was rusty when the Cubs signed him), and he was 17 till late August. So I wouldn't worry too much about a mediocre 100 bats in HS and then 50 crummy pro AB's. If he's hitting next season, the scattered 2007 numbers will be totally forgotten and dismissed as nonrepresentative.

 

meph and the scouts say there's not much question but that he'll hit. I wouldn't worry about it too much.

[Guest]

Cherry-picked a few chat questions that are related to topics that have come up recently here:

 

Q: Don from Rosemont, IL asks:

Jim, Could you let me know your thoughts on a few younger pitching prospects: Chris Huseby, Larry Suarez, and Robert Hernandez? Hernandez had a decent year at Peoria for someone his age and he seems to be a guy that could project to throw harder as he fills out.

 

A: Jim Callis: Huseby stuff was down a little this year, typical for a young pitcher in his first full pro season. I thought the Cubs overpaid for him at $1.3 million, but he does have a lot of upside. Suarez is a big Venezuelan, so he gets comped to Zambrano a lot. Good arm but far away. Hernandez gets the least fanfare but could be the best of the three. Pitched in low Class A at age 18, held his own, good arm, good changeup.

 

Hernandez! :)

 

Q: Michael Stern from Rochester NY asks:

All I see and read is that Vitters is supposed to be this tremendous hitter, however he hit only .390 in high school (where all your top prospects like Moustakas, Heyward, Revere, Fairley all hit .500 - .550.) And then in pro ball he was terrible - barely hitting .100. Why all the hype? Where does it come from? And is it justified?

 

A: Jim Callis: Michael, he had pneumonia during the spring and tried to play through it in southern California, a high school hotbed. Not to slight Revere or Fairley, but .390 in California is comparable to .500-.550 in Kentucky or Mississippi easy. Vitters tore up the showcase circuit last year against the best pitchers in the nation. He's legit.

 

Q: Dave B from Pittsburgh asks:

Would you have picked Vitters with the third pick? Can you give us a good comp? Will he stay at 3B?

 

A: Jim Callis: I might have taken Jason Heyward there, as I am enthralled by Heyward. But Vitters was a legit No. 3 pick, and the Pirates would have loved him at No. 4. He should be able to stay at third base and play average defense. If he reaches his ceiling, you're talking about a .300-hitting, 30-plus HR third baseman. He could become what Aramis Ramirez is today.

 

For Craig, Outshined_One and wvcbxl:

 

Q: Nate from Richmond, RI asks:

Alessandro Maestri's stats are ridiculously impressive, especially considering that his worst outings came in his 4 starts. As far as relief prospects go, is he the best in the system, and how quickly will he move? Also, does Hendry & Co. consider him to be the future closer of this team?

 

A: Jim Callis: Well, Jose Ceda is clearly the top relief prospect for the Cubs. But Maestri isn't too far down the list. His fastball and slider really played up out of the bullpen, and he had better stuff than Chicago expected. He's still another 1.5 to 2 years away at least. Carlos Marmol and Ceda are 1-2 in line to be the future closer for the Cubs.

 

Rhee actually got a $525,000 bonus:

 

Q: Navin from Pasadena, CA asks:

Can you tell me anything about Dae-Eun Rhee, the Cubs big IFA signing from South Korea who debuted in the instructional leagues? Thank you very much!

 

A: Jim Callis: I can . . . Rhee signed for $525,000 this summer. He has a lot of polish for an 18-year-old, with a very sound delivery and an advanced changeup. He throws strikes, gets up to 92-93 mph with his fastball, flashes a good curveball, still projectable at 6-3 and 180 pounds. Sounds very interesting. He'll be on the Top 30.

 

Q: Nate from Richmond, RI asks:

How far has Mark Pawelek's stock fallen? Can he still be called a legitimate prospect at this point?

 

A: Jim Callis: The Cubs haven't given hope, but I haven't heard much good about him from other organizations who have seen him. His mechanics aren't good, his stuff is down. He needs to start showing something in 2008.

 

 

Q: Rob Pepper from Chicago asks:

I remember seeing Veal pitch in 2006 and just thinking this guy is going to be awesome. What in the world happened to him in 2007? One game he'd be unhittable and strike out 14 and the next he'd get shelled.

 

A: Jim Callis: His command and his curveball just waver too much at this point. When they're on, he's very good. When not, he's not.

 

Q: Jody from Chicago asks:

Hi Jim! Ronny Cedeno question: I know you're one of his few supporters, but why do you think he doesn't have the starting SS job waiting for him with a bow on it in spring training? Sure, he took his knocks with the big club in 2006, but he dominated AAA in 2007 and showed much more confidenceresults with the Cubs upon his return. He's got a better glove than anyone else considered for the gig, and likely a better bat, so what gives? Is this another player Dusty's poor ability in developingmanaging prospects has damaged?

 

A: Jim Callis: Bonus question I couldn't resist: I think the job is Ryan Theriot's to lose heading into spring training. That said, I like Cedeno more for the long term. But he had a dreadful year playing every day in 2006, and now he's going to have to wait for another chance. I can't blame Dusty Baker for Cedeno. He got 534 at-bats in 2006 and hit .245-.271-.339. That's Cedeno's fault.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/chat/chat.php?id=2007111901&rnd=54#bottom

[wvcbxl]

Good to read that Alessandro Maestri is finally getting some love. :D

I hope they don't rush him; if they just let him settle in at the next level and he keeps doing what he's doing, the Cubs could indeed have a reliable in-house reliever within a year or two.

[craig]

Good Q on Petrick, Callis didn't seem to think his arm is fine. That would be nice.

 

I thought his comments on Castillo, Rhee, Maestri, Hernandez were favorable.

 

Awfully positive on Thomas. Hopefully the Cubs will be right that they can polish up his defense and work him into a satisfactory 2B. If he could play 2B, his bat would look a lot jazzier.

 

The Vitters/Aram comp was a good one, I thought. The tools do seem to match: contact hitting power 3B with very strong arm. If he hits like Aram, he'll be #1, no doubt about that.

 

The comment that one of the AZ scouts loves Fuld and thinks he can be a regular, that was encouraging too. But the fact that he's got Fuld equivalent to Fox, not so much, and don't think it makes sense. Utility players who can play multiple positions at satisfactory level and hit, valuable. Utility players who are utility player because they can't play any position satisfactorily, not valuable. Fox can't catch. Don't think his bat gets him all that far as a utility 1B/RF/LF who is bad at each of them.

 

Not too buzzed on Atkins.

 

Disappointed that he views Barney as slower and undertooled defensively relative to Theriot. I think hopefully that may be more a matter of overrating Theriot's tools defensively.

 

Comment that he sees the system as similar, relative to the leagues, as last year when we rated 18th, that was interesting too. Bad: With our budget, we should be better than that. Good: To hold, despite losing Guzman, Pie, and Marmol from the list, and having Veal and Samardz and Pawelek all flop bigtime (those were three who might have blossomed into real elevators), maybe to hold ground isn't too bad.

[ChiefsVoice]

 

He was obviously pretty grooved in by the end. Wonder if he'll just step up to Daytona, or will skip right to AA at age 22 next spring.

 

AA. Easy. and his Slider is awesome. He and Ceda are 1-2.

 

Thomas probably skips Peoria right?

[Guest]

 

He was obviously pretty grooved in by the end. Wonder if he'll just step up to Daytona, or will skip right to AA at age 22 next spring.

 

AA. Easy. and his Slider is awesome. He and Ceda are 1-2.

 

Thomas probably skips Peoria right?

 

I think so. You should get Donaldson and Vitters, though.

[Guest]

John Sickels[/url]"]Chicago Cubs Top 20 Prospects for 2008

 

All grades are EXTREMELY PRELIMINARY and subject to change.

 

1. Josh Vitters, 3B, Grade B+ (tough call, see commentary below)

2. Geovany Soto, C, Grade B+ (tough call, see commentary below)

3. Sean Gallagher, RHP, Grade B

4. Eric Patterson, 2B-OF, Grade B (I dropped him from B+ due to defense)

5. Tyler Colvin, OF, Grade B

6. Josh Donaldson, C, Grade B

7. Donald Veal, LHP, Grade B-

8. Jeff Samardzija, RHP, Grade B-

9. Jose Ceda, RHP, Grade B-

10. Tony Thomas, 2B, Grade B-

11. Billy Petrick, RHP, Grade C+

12. Kevin Hart, RHP, Grade C+

13. Sam Fuld, OF, Grade C+

14. Jake Fox, C-1B, Grade C+

15. Allesandro Maestri, RHP, Grade C+

16. Steve Clevenger, C, Grade C+

17. Mitch Atkins, RHP, Grade C

18. Mark Holliman, RHP, Grade C

19. Matt Craig, 3B, Grade C

20. Larry Suarez, RHP, Grade C

21. Ryan Acosta, RHP, Grade C

[craig]

AA. Easy. and his Slider is awesome. He and Ceda are 1-2.

 

Good to hear from you. I agree that Thomas will likely skip to Daytona. I'd agree with Cal that you'll get Donaldson for sure. Vitters, I wonder. He'll be 18 till the last week of the season, so if he's in Peoria he'll be really, really young. Robbie Chirinos and Felix Pie are the only position guys I can recall opening full-A as young or younger than Vitters will be next spring. If Vitters struggles in camp, I wouldn't be surprised if he gets held back. Hopefully, of course, he won't struggle, he'll come to camp hitting and make Peoria and hit great there, too.

 

ChiefsVoice, it's great to hear that Maestri looks so good. Two questions:

1) Could you say anything about his fastball, both velocity-wise and movement/type? Is he a guy who's ordinarily around 90-92 or so, or is that too fast? Do you know if he has some sink or 2-seam action on his fastball, or would the movement be relatively normal/average?

2) In minorleaguebaseball, they list him at 5'11", which isn't very tall for a RHP. So I've been imagining a relatively short guy who maybe wouldn't be likely to throw to hard or to project any added velocity future. But I watched a half-inning on a youtube clip, and he appeared to me to be relatively lanky, perhaps still somewhat projectible, and it appeared to me that while he wasn't tall for a pitcher, that he wasn't short either. Looked as tall as Russ Canzler, for example, who lists at 6'2". Any idea how tall he is, either in terms of 6'x" guestimate, or in terms of how his height compares to other guys on the team?

 

Related questions:

1. Could you share any post-season thoughts on Robert Hernandez? I'm guessing his best asset is the movement on his fastball? Is he a guy who was normally in the 88-91 kind of range, velocity-wise? But perhaps projects to get faster down the road as he fills out more? Promising change? What does he have, if anything for a breaking pitch? Would you say it's more curve or more of a slider? Is that the pitch that's most raw, and needs the most work?

2. Lambert got listed by BA with the best curve in the system, and Callis was suggesting that he could become a good lefty relief prospect, look out Ohman and Eyre. Did you like what you saw from him?

3. Ruhlman had some fairly interesting numbers. Is he a guy who maybe has the stuff to be pretty serious, if he can get more consistent? Whose stuff can look pretty impressive when he's locating it? Or is his stuff definitely not as exciting relative to some of the other guys?

4. I know you only saw him twice, and his numbers were excellent. But could you share any impressions on James Russell? The scouting perspective I've gotten is that he's got a good change, but fastball is question mark. Some reports have suggested that he throws quite soft, mostly mid-80's, i.e. probably velocity is a liability unless he can really spot it. A different report suggested that at least on occassion he gets it up to 90 or even 92, and may have a bit of projection left besides, in which case velocity isn't a liability, even if it isn't necessarily a strength either. Any impression from your view?

5. Chris Siegfried: My impression is that his fastball can be excellent and his curve outstanding, on a given day when he's locating. But that he's really raw and inconsistent. Does that jive with what you saw? I thought I heard the Cubs were maybe considering trying Siegfried in rotation. Not likely, but have you heard anything like that and would that make sense from your view?

 

Thanks a lot. It's always great to get some thoughts from somebody who's seen guys in action.

[CuseCubFan69]

I don't get what Craig wrote when he said Vitters hasn't hit at any level he has been at but yet he's #1? I suppose I'd like to know what hasn't hit means.

 

He had four stops last year: HS team, Mesa Cubs, Boise Cubs, and AFL instrux games. He hit .390 in HS; anytime a guy doesn't hit .400 or better in HS, I don't think he's hitting really well. He hit 0.067 in 7 games at Mesa; in 7 games at Boise he hit .190. I don't have stats for what he did in instrux, but based on games that Arizona Phil reported on, Vitters again had relatively few hits.

 

Each are small samples, the last one lacks actual statistical record, there are excuses for each (was sick during spring, was rusty when the Cubs signed him), and he was 17 till late August. So I wouldn't worry too much about a mediocre 100 bats in HS and then 50 crummy pro AB's. If he's hitting next season, the scattered 2007 numbers will be totally forgotten and dismissed as nonrepresentative.

 

meph and the scouts say there's not much question but that he'll hit. I wouldn't worry about it too much.

 

I'm not a big fan of batting average in HS as I've seen some funky scoring, shots that were outs, tries to hit long shots instead of doing what he's suppose to be doing, trying something new, along with a kid feeling a bit of pressure during his senior year and tons more like things in their personal life. Thanks for the breakdown craig.

[Guest]

Craig re Robert Hernandez. Meph posted a Cubs Talk link in the middle of 2006 where Oneri said he expected Robert Hernandez to throw harder down the road:

 

Mephistopheles on 8/1/2006[/url]"]Stuff on Dolis

[Dolis] was a shortstop that we converted to pitcher in January of this year. He throws up to 94, 95 miles per hour. He's got a great arm with a good feel and is a guy that can throw real hard.

 

Click me

 

Fleita likes the swing of 17 y/o Marwin Gonzalez. He's hitting .190/.264/.266.

 

Also Robert Hernandez is 17 and should develop into a hard thrower. He's got a sub 2 ERA, but lack of Ks.

[ChiefsVoice]

AA. Easy. and his Slider is awesome. He and Ceda are 1-2.

 

Good to hear from you. I agree that Thomas will likely skip to Daytona. I'd agree with Cal that you'll get Donaldson for sure. Vitters, I wonder. He'll be 18 till the last week of the season, so if he's in Peoria he'll be really, really young. Robbie Chirinos and Felix Pie are the only position guys I can recall opening full-A as young or younger than Vitters will be next spring. If Vitters struggles in camp, I wouldn't be surprised if he gets held back. Hopefully, of course, he won't struggle, he'll come to camp hitting and make Peoria and hit great there, too.

 

ChiefsVoice, it's great to hear that Maestri looks so good. Two questions:

1) Could you say anything about his fastball, both velocity-wise and movement/type? Is he a guy who's ordinarily around 90-92 or so, or is that too fast? Do you know if he has some sink or 2-seam action on his fastball, or would the movement be relatively normal/average?

2) In minorleaguebaseball, they list him at 5'11", which isn't very tall for a RHP. So I've been imagining a relatively short guy who maybe wouldn't be likely to throw to hard or to project any added velocity future. But I watched a half-inning on a youtube clip, and he appeared to me to be relatively lanky, perhaps still somewhat projectible, and it appeared to me that while he wasn't tall for a pitcher, that he wasn't short either. Looked as tall as Russ Canzler, for example, who lists at 6'2". Any idea how tall he is, either in terms of 6'x" guestimate, or in terms of how his height compares to other guys on the team?

 

Related questions:

1. Could you share any post-season thoughts on Robert Hernandez? I'm guessing his best asset is the movement on his fastball? Is he a guy who was normally in the 88-91 kind of range, velocity-wise? But perhaps projects to get faster down the road as he fills out more? Promising change? What does he have, if anything for a breaking pitch? Would you say it's more curve or more of a slider? Is that the pitch that's most raw, and needs the most work?

2. Lambert got listed by BA with the best curve in the system, and Callis was suggesting that he could become a good lefty relief prospect, look out Ohman and Eyre. Did you like what you saw from him?

3. Ruhlman had some fairly interesting numbers. Is he a guy who maybe has the stuff to be pretty serious, if he can get more consistent? Whose stuff can look pretty impressive when he's locating it? Or is his stuff definitely not as exciting relative to some of the other guys?

4. I know you only saw him twice, and his numbers were excellent. But could you share any impressions on James Russell? The scouting perspective I've gotten is that he's got a good change, but fastball is question mark. Some reports have suggested that he throws quite soft, mostly mid-80's, i.e. probably velocity is a liability unless he can really spot it. A different report suggested that at least on occassion he gets it up to 90 or even 92, and may have a bit of projection left besides, in which case velocity isn't a liability, even if it isn't necessarily a strength either. Any impression from your view?

5. Chris Siegfried: My impression is that his fastball can be excellent and his curve outstanding, on a given day when he's locating. But that he's really raw and inconsistent. Does that jive with what you saw? I thought I heard the Cubs were maybe considering trying Siegfried in rotation. Not likely, but have you heard anything like that and would that make sense from your view?

 

Thanks a lot. It's always great to get some thoughts from somebody who's seen guys in action.

 

Wow, let see hopefully I get them all.

 

1. Maestri. 90-92 is accurate with downward movement. he was very tough on hitters late in games all season

2. id say he is over 6 foot, but then again im 5'3 so they are all tall to me. ha

 

Others.

1. Hernandez was very impressive to me. Of course he had a roller coaster ride of a season but thats to be expected when you are that age and away from home for the first time. If he got through the 1st inning he was very tough to score on. But too many times he gave up 2 or 3 in the 1st and then the pitch count went up and the confidence went down. I think it would make sense to keep him with David Rosario for the 2008 season if possible as the two really connected and Robert was much improved in August. 90-92. great change, needs work on location, moving the ball in and out and the breaking pitch which was kinda flat.

2. When Lambert through strikes he was awesome. great curve. Not a lot of velocity. tough late in games, short memory. I could see him as an Eyre type. Campusano is the better lefty (assuming he comes back healthy) but i liked Casey a lot.

3. I was/am a big Ruhlman fan and i hope he gets a chance in Daytona in 2008. he was very reliable and a workhorse out of the pen. Always confident when he was on the mound. Quiet kid but one who gets his job done. Good slider.

4/5. Didnt really see a whole lot of either of these guys. Russell was on such a pitch count with us that it is unfair for me to comment on him but he started our no-hitter and was just as good in his 1st start as well. Had some control problems in his 3rd start at Quad Cities. Id love to watch him some more but I don't know that he will be back....Siegfried had a great Instructs from what I hear. Id love to see him start. He seemed to ask a ton of qusetions of the coaches and other pitchers and had the desire to learn that you dont always see. Good curve yes. I know he had a long college season and was in the pen with us so i wouldnt be too surprised to see him start in ST.

 

Hope that helps. Happy Thanksgiving all!

[ChiefsVoice]

 

He was obviously pretty grooved in by the end. Wonder if he'll just step up to Daytona, or will skip right to AA at age 22 next spring.

 

AA. Easy. and his Slider is awesome. He and Ceda are 1-2.

 

Thomas probably skips Peoria right?

 

I think so. You should get Donaldson and Vitters, though.

 

Yeah i expect those two. And hopefully Burke

[Guest]

 

He was obviously pretty grooved in by the end. Wonder if he'll just step up to Daytona, or will skip right to AA at age 22 next spring.

 

AA. Easy. and his Slider is awesome. He and Ceda are 1-2.

 

Thomas probably skips Peoria right?

 

I think so. You should get Donaldson and Vitters, though.

 

Yeah i expect those two. And hopefully Burke

 

Yeah, you should get Burke too. And I agree with you that Russell will jump up to Daytona. I think I'll start a thread in a bit to see where everyone thinks people will start next season.

[badnews]

Are all of these guys really going to be promoted so quickly? The Cubs have been one of the slower promoting organizations in baseball, although better than the Astros-molasses.

[Outshined_One]

Thanks for that, Nate!

 

Are all of these guys really going to be promoted so quickly? The Cubs have been one of the slower promoting organizations in baseball, although better than the Astros-molasses.

 

It depends on the guy. They've been incredibly patient with Pie, promoting him one step at a time, one year at a time. However, they've been happy to call up guys like Murton, Greenberg, Gallagher, Marshall, and Marmol despite a relative lack of experience in the upper minor leagues. Most of the time, the Cubs tend not to challenge guys with promotions and are instead content to keep them at the same levels all season; especially if their team is in a potential playoff hunt or if it's a guy's first full season of baseball.

 

They tend to promote relievers quickly, though.

[badnews]

They pretty much called them up out of desperation though. Sam Fuld moved along agonizingly slow, considering Blevins was a lefty reliever with high K numbers, he got moved along pretty slowly. How many guys have gotten skipped from Boise to Daytona? For a guy as old as Jeremy Papelbon is, look at how slow he's moving, when is his major league ETA, 2013? Maestri is not zooming along either, I'm surprised he was left in dead-ball Peoria so long.

 

It seems like lately they have been moving guys along a little faster. But I wouldn't be surprised to see Donaldson and Thomas at Peoria. On Vitters, it seems like most high schooler drafted that high skip short season, or guys drafted even lower. Two of my favorite picks for the Cubs with their 1st choice in 2006 were Travis Snider and Hank Conger, now am I mistaken, or did neither of them bum around short season? I wonder why other teams' high pick high school hitters can skip short season and not hit a brick wall.

[Outshined_One]

Two of my favorite picks for the Cubs with their 1st choice in 2006 were Travis Snider and Hank Conger, now am I mistaken, or did neither of them bum around short season? I wonder why other teams' high pick high school hitters can skip short season and not hit a brick wall.

 

Conger started out in the Arizona League after being drafted and also spent some time this past season in the AZ League (15 ABs, was he injured?). Snider started out in the Appalachian League. Both played in the full season Midwest League this past year. It's rare to see a recent draftee be immediately sent to a full season league, though.

[badnews]

Do you really think so? I don't know how fast Vitters will move, but if you look at top high school hitters drafted it seems like most of them move fairly quick, especially guys touted as much as Vitters. Vitters is as touted as Chris Marrero was. Marrero was drafted at the same age as Vitters. Marrero has already logged significant time in Advanced A.

[Mephistopheles]

the cubs dont have a need to promote him quickly. the nats need all kinds of help at the big league level. poor comparison

[Outshined_One]

the cubs dont have a need to promote him quickly. the nats need all kinds of help at the big league level. poor comparison

 

Yep. Teams like KC and Pittsburgh have a tendency to do it, as well. The D-Rays have been surprisingly patient with their young pitching prospects, though.

 

The Nats are fairly notorious for rushing their guys. Cordero and Zimmerman both made their major league debuts with the Nationals the same year they were drafted.

[badnews]

I don't see it as a poor comparison because often enough promotions aren't based so much on need. The Dodgers have seemed to be aggressive promoters whether they're doing well or not. I don't think it's so uncommon for high school hitters drafted so high to skip levels.

[Guest]

Two guys who skipped from Boise to Daytona at the beginning of last season were Colvin and Matulia. Clevenger would have skipped up too if he hadn't changed positions (Clevenger still skipped Peoria midseason).

 

Tony Thomas' bat is ready for the jump from Boise to Daytona. Donaldson maybe too though he has questions about handling breaking pitches and is still learning to catch so the Cubs might go slow. Both are college bats like Colvin, Matulia and Clevenger.

 

Russell was slated to start at Daytona when he was signed. He's a college pitcher from a big time NCAA program who got top-5 round money. A guy like Holliman made his pro debut in Daytona. Wouldn't be a surprise for the Cubs to send him there.

 

Of the last 3 top-10 HS position players the Cubs picked, Corey Patterson started out at low-A Lansing (that was his pro debut, he signed late), Luis Montanez started his first full pro season at low-A Lansing (was in Mesa and Lansing the year he was drafted) and Ryan Harvey went to short season Boise partly due to injury (was in Mesa the year he was drafted). The Cubs will probably give Vitters a good chance of opening at Peoria but given his young age for a HS guy + things they might want to work on at extended (defense obviously), they might send him to extended and then Boise and I wouldn't be surprised.

[jersey cubs fan]

Of the last 3 top-10 HS position players the Cubs picked, Corey Patterson started out at low-A Lansing (that was his pro debut, he signed late), Luis Montanez started his first full pro season at low-A Lansing (was in Mesa and Lansing the year he was drafted) and Ryan Harvey went to short season Boise partly due to injury (was in Mesa the year he was drafted). The Cubs will probably give Vitters a good chance of opening at Peoria but given his young age for a HS guy + things they might want to work on at extended (defense obviously), they might send him to extended and then Boise and I wouldn't be surprised.

 

Perhaps they'd hold Vitters back in only because they thought those guys were rushed. Plus, Vitters plays a position that filled. Corey was the CF of the future, and Don Baylor was pushing for him to be the CF as soon as possible. Obviously Baylor didn't make that sort of call, and wasn't even in the organization at the time to make that call. But it kind of symbolized the savior status the organization placed on Corey, which meant he was going to be rushed. Montanez was also playing a need position they wanted to fill sooner rather than later. Vitters isn't going to see Wrigley for a few years even if all goes well, and there's no major league need to rush him anytime soon. Hopefully they won't be aggressive with the kid and will actually teach him to be a pro, instead of sitting back and expecting his pretty swing to solve any problems on its own (Kelton).

[Guest]

Good Q on Petrick, Callis didn't seem to think his arm is fine. That would be nice.

 

Yeah, Petrick just needed rest; he got his shoulder checked when the velo dropped and everything was fine. (I'm guessing you meant "did").