Vitters has tendonitis!

[badnews]

That sarcastic rejoinder is pretty easily turned around.

 

"Hey guys, let's go easy on Vitters, he just needs more time. I mean, it's not like this organization has been specifically noted for destroying every promising young hitter they get their hands on or anything, or that he has a lot of the attributes as other busts, or that his senior season disappointment was rather just glossed over, or that the Cubs have established a definite trend in this sort of department that you'd have to be on company payroll to pretend doesn't exist or anything. Let's just give him some time and you'll see I'm right like all those other home grown stud draft picks who just needed time and turned out fine."

[Outshined_One]

That sarcastic rejoinder is pretty easily turned around.

 

"Hey guys, let's go easy on Vitters, he just needs more time. I mean, it's not like this organization has been specifically noted for destroying every promising young hitter they get their hands on or anything, or that he has a lot of the attributes as other busts, or that his senior season disappointment was rather just glossed over, or that the Cubs have established a definite trend in this sort of department that you'd have to be on company payroll to pretend doesn't exist or anything. Let's just give him some time and you'll see I'm right like all those other home grown stud draft picks who just needed time and turned out fine."

 

Seriously, what do you think the Cubs should do? Do you honestly believe guys like Wieters and Heyward would be doing any better than Vitters at this point if either was drafted by the Cubs, given how you view this farm system? Should the Cubs just stop drafting position players, or what?

[badnews]

I think some players are less susceptible to the Cub talent-destroying machine than others.

 

Wieters, of course he'd be doing fine in the Cubs system, the Cubs are a lot better at destroying the kind of raw, undisciplined young high school talent than a professional, elite college hitter like Wieters.

 

Heyward, I'm not going to pine too hard for. There's a good chance he'd be crap in this system.

 

Otherwise, why should anyone think the Cubs should've drafted Travis Snider? Travis Snider was a complete hitter, almost a collegiately polished hitter, whereas with Vitters all you read about is his rawness and talent. Don't draft any raw college hitters with boatloads of sexy talent that high, this organization can't do crap with it. Same goes with anybody who draws a Vladimir Guerrero or Nomar Garciaparra type comparison, because it always turns out they don't make the same kind of consistent hard contact those guys (in their heyday for Garciaparra) made by swinging at nearly everything.

 

So the Cubs should draft position players, yeah, but high school position players are the diciest, and ones like Vitters dicier than some. And who gives a crap if Vitters was some further down round pick, you don't see me complaining about Dylan Johnston, the frustration comes from the wasting of such a high pick.

[illiniguy]

I just want one time for us to have a top 10 pick and come away from it with a sure fire star. So far this decade we had Montanez, Harvey, and Vitters as hitters. Couple those guys with the other first round picks we have had, Pawelek and Colvin and it is pretty easy to see why some people are panicing.

[Guest]

Badnews,

 

You either have very selective memory or read very different pre-draft scouting reports than I did.

[davearm2]

I just want one time for us to have a top 10 pick and come away from it with a sure fire star. So far this decade we had Montanez, Harvey, and Vitters as hitters. Couple those guys with the other first round picks we have had, Pawelek and Colvin and it is pretty easy to see why some people are panicing.

They did, in 2001.

[Sammy Sofa]

AND LEON IS GETTING LAAAARRRRRRRRRRGER!!!

[badnews]

Badnews,

 

You either have very selective memory or read very different pre-draft scouting reports than I did.

 

Specifically, what do you take issue with? You can't be disputing that Snider was seen as far more polished and "major league ready" than Vitters, who was more of a "project" right? I mean, I'm not saying he was a (Braves) Cody Johnson type project, but I remember the Guerrero comps, the raw tag, etc.

[CubColtPacer]

Badnews,

 

You either have very selective memory or read very different pre-draft scouting reports than I did.

 

Specifically, what do you take issue with? You can't be disputing that Snider was seen as far more polished and "major league ready" than Vitters, who was more of a "project" right? I mean, I'm not saying he was a (Braves) Cody Johnson type project, but I remember the Guerrero comps, the raw tag, etc.

 

Just a couple quick snippets from different reports on Vitters:

 

One of the most polished high school hitters in the draft class

 

He was the safest bet of all early first round talents (not named Price)

 

He has a short, compact stroke with outstanding bat speed that produces plus-plus power for someone who has yet to turn 18 years old.

 

Vitters has what some consider to be an anomaly, a "pretty" right-handed swing.

 

The 17-year-old Vitters is a polished hitter who combines raw talent with a strong quick stroke

 

Best hitter in the draft in terms of bat speed and hand-eye coordination--then adds plus raw power on top of it; shows no weakness in terms of pitch type or location.

 

He has tremendous feel for getting the fat part of the bat to the ball, and with his tremendous bat speed and barrel awareness, he drives the ball more consistently than any hitter in the class.

 

I have seen exactly one scouting report that even gives a hint of Vladimir, with this quote:

 

Vitters’ his hand-eye coordination and ability to make contact are almost too good, because at times he swings at pitches he should let pass, rather than waiting for one he can punish with his all-fields power.

 

The scouting reports pretty much agree with each other though. Polished line drive hitter, short pretty swing, bat is very advanced, defense needs work. He's certainly not raw offensively, not at least in the minds of all those who wrote the reports. In fact, many said his bat is still certainly good enough to hit at a corner outfield spot if he cannot stay at third.

[Guest]

Badnews,

 

You either have very selective memory or read very different pre-draft scouting reports than I did.

 

Specifically, what do you take issue with? You can't be disputing that Snider was seen as far more polished and "major league ready" than Vitters, who was more of a "project" right? I mean, I'm not saying he was a (Braves) Cody Johnson type project, but I remember the Guerrero comps, the raw tag, etc.

You're kidding, right? He was easily the consensus pick for first high school player to make the bigs, most polished hs hitter, etc., as the quotes from ccp attest. I can't believe that you're still trying to claim this.

[CubinNY]

Badnews,

 

You either have very selective memory or read very different pre-draft scouting reports than I did.

 

Specifically, what do you take issue with? You can't be disputing that Snider was seen as far more polished and "major league ready" than Vitters, who was more of a "project" right? I mean, I'm not saying he was a (Braves) Cody Johnson type project, but I remember the Guerrero comps, the raw tag, etc.

 

Just a couple quick snippets from different reports on Vitters:

 

One of the most polished high school hitters in the draft class

 

He was the safest bet of all early first round talents (not named Price)

 

He has a short, compact stroke with outstanding bat speed that produces plus-plus power for someone who has yet to turn 18 years old.

 

Vitters has what some consider to be an anomaly, a "pretty" right-handed swing.

 

The 17-year-old Vitters is a polished hitter who combines raw talent with a strong quick stroke

 

Best hitter in the draft in terms of bat speed and hand-eye coordination--then adds plus raw power on top of it; shows no weakness in terms of pitch type or location.

 

He has tremendous feel for getting the fat part of the bat to the ball, and with his tremendous bat speed and barrel awareness, he drives the ball more consistently than any hitter in the class.

 

I have seen exactly one scouting report that even gives a hint of Vladimir, with this quote:

 

Vitters’ his hand-eye coordination and ability to make contact are almost too good, because at times he swings at pitches he should let pass, rather than waiting for one he can punish with his all-fields power.

 

The scouting reports pretty much agree with each other though. Polished line drive hitter, short pretty swing, bat is very advanced, defense needs work. He's certainly not raw offensively, not at least in the minds of all those who wrote the reports. In fact, many said his bat is still certainly good enough to hit at a corner outfield spot if he cannot stay at third.

I think the scouts can fall in love with the swing and what not, but his high school numbers were in no way near that level of gush. Those comments are almost sexual.

[Guest]

Just a couple quick snippets from different reports on Vitters:

 

One of the most polished high school hitters in the draft class

 

He was the safest bet of all early first round talents (not named Price)

 

He has a short, compact stroke with outstanding bat speed that produces plus-plus power for someone who has yet to turn 18 years old.

 

Vitters has what some consider to be an anomaly, a "pretty" right-handed swing.

 

The 17-year-old Vitters is a polished hitter who combines raw talent with a strong quick stroke

 

Best hitter in the draft in terms of bat speed and hand-eye coordination--then adds plus raw power on top of it; shows no weakness in terms of pitch type or location.

 

He has tremendous feel for getting the fat part of the bat to the ball, and with his tremendous bat speed and barrel awareness, he drives the ball more consistently than any hitter in the class.

 

I have seen exactly one scouting report that even gives a hint of Vladimir, with this quote:

 

Vitters’ his hand-eye coordination and ability to make contact are almost too good, because at times he swings at pitches he should let pass, rather than waiting for one he can punish with his all-fields power.

 

The scouting reports pretty much agree with each other though. Polished line drive hitter, short pretty swing, bat is very advanced, defense needs work. He's certainly not raw offensively, not at least in the minds of all those who wrote the reports. In fact, many said his bat is still certainly good enough to hit at a corner outfield spot if he cannot stay at third.

I think the scouts can fall in love with the swing and what not, but his high school numbers were in no way near that level of gush. Those comments are almost sexual.

Funny, I don't see any of the "strong body", "great frame" type stuff there. Are you certain you're not just looking through an anti-scout, stereotyping lens?

[CubinNY]

Funny, I don't see any of the "strong body", "great frame" type stuff there. Are you certain you're not just looking through an anti-scout, stereotyping lens?

"Fat part of the bat to the ball, and with his tremendous bat speed and barrel awareness."

 

Not as erotic as some, but still a little creepy.

 

What the hell is barrel awareness?

[Guest]

Funny, I don't see any of the "strong body", "great frame" type stuff there. Are you certain you're not just looking through an anti-scout, stereotyping lens?

"Fat part of the bat to the ball, and with his tremendous bat speed and barrel awareness."

 

Not as erotic as some, but still a little creepy.

 

What the hell is barrel awareness?

Never worked much with a hitting coach, eh?

[CubinNY]

Funny, I don't see any of the "strong body", "great frame" type stuff there. Are you certain you're not just looking through an anti-scout, stereotyping lens?

"Fat part of the bat to the ball, and with his tremendous bat speed and barrel awareness."

 

Not as erotic as some, but still a little creepy.

 

What the hell is barrel awareness?

Never worked much with a hitting coach, eh?

No, and I never used nonsensical phrases to describe a good hitter either.

 

I hope Vitters pans out and becomes an every day ML player.

[Guest]

Funny, I don't see any of the "strong body", "great frame" type stuff there. Are you certain you're not just looking through an anti-scout, stereotyping lens?

"Fat part of the bat to the ball, and with his tremendous bat speed and barrel awareness."

 

Not as erotic as some, but still a little creepy.

 

What the hell is barrel awareness?

Never worked much with a hitting coach, eh?

No, and I never used nonsensical phrases to describe a good hitter either.

 

I hope Vitters pans out and becomes an every day ML player.

It's not really nonsensical. You've probably heard Ichiro described as having tremendous bat control and awareness. Talking about that in regards to the barrel of the bat is just being more specific about getting the fat part of the bat in the right place at the right time. whatever the other connotations are, that fat part of the bat is called the barrel.

[CuseCubFan69]

Funny, I don't see any of the "strong body", "great frame" type stuff there. Are you certain you're not just looking through an anti-scout, stereotyping lens?

"Fat part of the bat to the ball, and with his tremendous bat speed and barrel awareness."

 

Not as erotic as some, but still a little creepy.

 

What the hell is barrel awareness?

Never worked much with a hitting coach, eh?

No, and I never used nonsensical phrases to describe a good hitter either.

 

I hope Vitters pans out and becomes an every day ML player.

 

I'm glad he didn't say sweet spot of the bat!

[Guest]

btw - hand / wrist injuries for hitters worry me nearly as much as shoulder injuries bother me for pitchers. I still think Choi would have been a very good major league hitter if he hadn't gotten injured in his first pass through AAA. He was never quite the same hitter after that.

[Guest]

Funny, I don't see any of the "strong body", "great frame" type stuff there. Are you certain you're not just looking through an anti-scout, stereotyping lens?

"Fat part of the bat to the ball, and with his tremendous bat speed and barrel awareness."

 

Not as erotic as some, but still a little creepy.

 

What the hell is barrel awareness?

Never worked much with a hitting coach, eh?

No, and I never used nonsensical phrases to describe a good hitter either.

 

I hope Vitters pans out and becomes an every day ML player.

 

I'm glad he didn't say sweet spot of the bat!

Better than G spot, I guess!

[Guest]

btw - hand / wrist injuries for hitters worry me nearly as much as shoulder injuries bother me for pitchers. I still think Choi would have been a very good major league hitter if he hadn't gotten injured in his first pass through AAA. He was never quite the same hitter after that.

 

Yeah, I'm rather worried too. Seems serious enough too.

[Outshined_One]

One of the things about the MLB Draft that I secretly look forward to every year are the scouting reports in all caps. You're almost guaranteed to see at least four or five guys described in a way that is commonly associated with bad romance novels.

 

SOFT, SUPPLE HANDS. BROAD SHOULDERS. KNOWS HOW TO USE HIS BUTT AND HIPS TO GENERATE POWER. MUSCULAR LEGS. RIPPLING BICEPS.

 

It never fails to crack me up.

[CuseCubFan69]

One of the things about the MLB Draft that I secretly look forward to every year are the scouting reports in all caps. You're almost guaranteed to see at least four or five guys described in a way that is commonly associated with bad romance novels.

 

SOFT, SUPPLE HANDS. BROAD SHOULDERS. KNOWS HOW TO USE HIS BUTT AND HIPS TO GENERATE POWER. MUSCULAR LEGS. RIPPLING BICEPS.

 

It never fails to crack me up.

 

Can stroke it. Goes the other way well.

[Outshined_One]

Can stroke it. Goes the other way well.

 

Better suited to pitcher than catcher.

[CuseCubFan69]

Can stroke it. Goes the other way well.

 

Better suited to pitcher than catcher.

 

I'm never going to look at a scout the same way ever again.

[Outshined_One]

Can stroke it. Goes the other way well.

 

Better suited to pitcher than catcher.

 

I'm never going to look at a scout the same way ever again.

 

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

 

I wonder how those scouting reports would look for women's softball players? :lol: