The 2008 BA Prospect Hot Sheet Thread

[CaliforniaRaisin]

April 11, 2008:

 

No Cubs in the top 13 but one in the "Helium Watch" section:

 

HELIUM WATCH

• Cubs righthander Dae-Eun Rhee (2-0, 0.90, 12 K in 10 IP). Rhee has had no problems adjusting to pitching in the States in two stars with low Class A Peoria (Midwest). Chicago signed Rhee for $525,000 in July 2007, but kept him in instructional league in for the rest of the summer. Rhee, the Cubs No. 16 prospect coming into the season, features an intriguing array of talent including a low 90s fastball and a changeup that moves like a splitter. He was unproven coming into the season, but is changing that notion quickly after his first two professional starts in the U.S.

 

Two guys who have been compared to Vitters due to draft position were mentioned. Matt Wieters came in at #7 and Mike Moustakas came in the "Not So Hot" section.

[TruffleShuffle]

i like brett anderson a lot. stockton really is loaded; isn't soccer10k near there?

 

my anger about not drafting wieters is slightly muted by geovany soto, but i still think that a player of wieters' caliber would have huge value, either to the cubs or in the trading market.

 

i'm surprised that moustakas is playing ss. everything i saw leading up to the draft was that he would end up being too big to play ss, and he's struggled defensively there. i know they want him to stick there because they have gordon at 3b, but if he really isn't going to be able to play ss, what's the point of leaving him there?

[Guest]

I think they're giving him one chance to try to stay at SS this season and it won't last long and he'll move to third.

 

Also, soccer10k is in Davis which is about an hour from Stockton.

[Brett]

Wonder what the chances are Rhee gets bumped up to Daytona this year?

[RedFlash]

my anger about not drafting wieters is slightly muted by geovany soto, but i still think that a player of wieters' caliber would have huge value, either to the cubs or in the trading market.

 

The Brewers took LaPorta even tho 1B/LF/RF/DH were already manned by young players like Fielder/Braun and Hart. It seem to reason that the LaPorta pick was stupid, but on 2nd thought, a very good to monster yr in the minors, and his value goes MILE HIGH. And the Brewers could either move Hart for a pitcher behind Gallardi (or however you spell his name) or use LaPorta in a package for another top end starting pitcher (someone like Burnett or Kazmir if the need arises).

 

Wieters could have been the same value trading chip. But water under the bridge.

[Guest]

Wonder what the chances are Rhee gets bumped up to Daytona this year?

 

I can't see him moving up until August even with a strong season. He really forced the issue to get himself inserted in Peoria (he threw 2 innings at instructs last fall and then made his way up to the Peoria roster with a really good camp last month) - I don't think they'll push him too much more.

[badnews]

He will make a delightful trade chip in a less-than-great "Go for It" trade this summer.

 

So far it's been him and to a lesser extent Tony Thomas and the rest has been depressing box score watching.

 

Vitters - I look forward to at least three more years of people saying "Give him a chance, he's young." My first choice, considering we couldn't afford Porcello, was Wieters, and let that "problem" resolve itself when the time comes.

 

The 2007 1st round though, kind of odd, like the second after they were made picks made ten earlier than the higher ones looked better.

[illiniguy]

He will make a delightful trade chip in a less-than-great "Go for It" trade this summer.

 

So far it's been him and to a lesser extent Tony Thomas and the rest has been depressing box score watching.

 

Vitters - I look forward to at least three more years of people saying "Give him a chance, he's young." My first choice, considering we couldn't afford Porcello, was Wieters, and let that "problem" resolve itself when the time comes.

 

The 2007 1st round though, kind of odd, like the second after they were made picks made ten earlier than the higher ones looked better.

There is absolutely no way that we could not afford Rick Porcello.

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

Please don't use double negatives.

[Brett]

Please don't use double negatives.

 

There is absolutely a way we could afford Rick Porcello.

 

 

Just doesn't pop. I like it the way he said it. :D

[illiniguy]

Please don't use double negatives.

How about, we could have afforded to draft Porcello, but instead we screwed up another draft?

[dlocks]

Wonder what the chances are Rhee gets bumped up to Daytona this year?

 

I don't think the cubs will rush him either. At only 19, he needs innings at various levels through out the system. there is an outside shot he might get bumped up to Daytona very late in the year just to get his feet wet. With a solid year this year, (looks great so far) he will definately be in Daytona next year though. But certainly no need to rush thihs kid.

[YearofDaCubs]

Wonder what the chances are Rhee gets bumped up to Daytona this year?

 

I don't think the cubs will rush him either. At only 19, he needs innings at various levels through out the system. there is an outside shot he might get bumped up to Daytona very late in the year just to get his feet wet. With a solid year this year, (looks great so far) he will definately be in Daytona next year though. But certainly no need to rush thihs kid.

Welcome!

[Outshined_One]

Wonder what the chances are Rhee gets bumped up to Daytona this year?

 

I don't think the cubs will rush him either. At only 19, he needs innings at various levels through out the system. there is an outside shot he might get bumped up to Daytona very late in the year just to get his feet wet. With a solid year this year, (looks great so far) he will definately be in Daytona next year though. But certainly no need to rush thihs kid.

 

Welcome aboard!

 

I think the key thing for Rhee this season is physical and mental health. We know he has incredible talent. He is young, still filling out his frame, and has a long way to go before reaching his ceiling. Everything he needs to be successful is there.

 

However, we need to keep in mind that this is his first season in professional baseball. The last thing the Cubs should do to him is get him out of his comfort zone and rush him this season. Right now, their focus should be on building up his confidence and on keeping him mechanically sound. Next season, they can start challenging him.

[dlocks]

thanks for the welcome wishes everyone! I agree with O_O. Rhee has great potential, and there is not reason to rush him. Should be very fun to see how he progresses in his young career.

[Outshined_One]

The only Cub on the latest Hot Sheet graces the "Not Hot" section...

 

• Josh Donaldson, c, Cubs. Donaldson (.105/.105/.158 this week) was named the No. 2 prospect in the Northwest League in 2007 after hitting .346/.470/.605 with nine home runs in 49 games for short-season Boise. That success hasn't carried over into 2008, as Donaldson is hitting only .157/.213/.257 for low Class A Peoria and has only one home run in 18 games. After showing outstanding patience in the NWL in 2007 to the tune of a 37-34 BB-K rate, Donaldson has walked only four times and has struck out 15 times in 2008.

[Guest]

No Cubs in this weeks top 13 but I think we should just be happy there are no Cubs in the not-so-hot list. From the ensuing chat:

 

Q: Ryan from Columbus, OH asks:

I know the Cubs system has been down for the past couple years but where's the love for some of the prospects? Donnie Veal is 2-1 with a 2.67 ERA in AA. Colvin is struggling with AA pitching but I think Veal should at least sniff the board. Thanks for taking my question.

 

Ben Badler: I've never been on the Veal bandwagon, and I'm not ready to hop on board now. He wasn't really close to Hot Sheet this week, since he allowed five runs in four innings in his only start, and control is still a problem. It's been a pretty down year for Cubs prospects, with Colvin struggling, Josh Vitters only making a brief splash in full season ball, and Tony Thomas and Josh Donaldson going through an adjustment period in their first full seasons too.

[Brett]

I can understand being down on Veal after last year, but how could someone say they were never on him? His 2006 was absolutely disgusting.

[TruffleShuffle]

I can understand being down on Veal after last year, but how could someone say they were never on him? His 2006 was absolutely disgusting.

 

some people don't like guys with high walk rates. not saying i agree with them, but it's a defensible position.

[Guest]

Not Hot (May 16):

 

• Jeff Samardzija, rhp, Cubs. Was Samardzija worth the major league contract worth $10 million that the Cubs gave him after drafting him in the fifth round out of Notre Dame in 2006? It's too early to tell, but the early returns haven't been great. After racking up just 65 strikeouts in 141 2/3 innings last season between high Class A Daytona and Double-A Tennessee, Samardzija has struggled mightily this year: 43 1/3 IP, 47 H, 27 R, 27 ER, 29 BB, 24 SO and a 5.61 ERA. Those numbers include the results of his two outings this week, in which Samardzija lasted a combined six innings, allowing 16 hits and 13 runs (all earned) for an 18.87 ERA with three strikeouts and an alarming nine walks.

[TruffleShuffle]

way to go, jeff!

[YearofDaCubs]

Our minor league system is a joke right now.

[jersey cubs fan]

way to go, jeff!

 

He's working on his give up lots of walks, hits and runs pitch so the results can be expected to be bad.

[Brett]

way to go, jeff!

 

He's working on his give up lots of walks, hits and runs pitch so the results can be expected to be bad.

 

I believe it's called a shlurve.

[Guest]

Only the second time a Cub has been mentioned in positive light in the Hot Sheets:

 

Baseball America, May 30[/url]"]IN THE TEAM PHOTO

 

High Class A Daytona's (Cubs) Tony Thomas has struggled some this year, but has a multi-hit game in his last four starts and has a .435/.458/.739 line for the week in a tough league for hitters . . .

 

Still no Cubs have cracked the top 13 this year.