Vitters has tendonitis!

[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.

 

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

 

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

 

Speaking of that, a buddy of mine is meeting with Jennie Finch as we speak.

[CoolHandLuke]

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.

 

I'm pretty sure he had mono or something similar, that at least partially explains his slightly subpar numbers. Also he played in socal where the level of competition is much higher than, let's say, some po-dunk indiana conference.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

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:

 

Speaking of that, a buddy of mine is meeting with Jennie Finch as we speak.

 

Now what could "meeting" be a euphamism for?

[TruffleShuffle]

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:

 

Speaking of that, a buddy of mine is meeting with Jennie Finch as we speak.

 

Now what could "meeting" be a euphamism for?

 

probably nothing sexual, unless that buddy is casey daigle

[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.

 

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

 

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

 

Speaking of that, a buddy of mine is meeting with Jennie Finch as we speak.

 

Now what could "meeting" be a euphamism for?

 

He's a Mazuno rep.

[jaydee]

What is with the irrational hate and pessimism about this guy?

[jersey cubs fan]

What is with the irrational hate and pessimism about this guy?

 

People hated the pick before it was made. They don't have confidence in a high school hitter who didn't even hit as a senior, I believe. Top picks should be without flaws, his sickness may have been the sole reason why he wasn't special, but that's a chance you take later on, not at the top. A top 5 pick shouldn't have such a huge flaw on his resume. Furthermore, there has been nothing but bad news on him since he came out. There's enough obstacles for a top notch draft pick to make it as a major leaguer even when things go smoothly early.

 

I don't see what's so irrational.

[CuseCubFan69]

I've seen a lot of HS players diagnosed with tendonitis this year for some reason.

[jaydee]

What is with the irrational hate and pessimism about this guy?

 

People hated the pick before it was made. They don't have confidence in a high school hitter who didn't even hit as a senior, I believe. Top picks should be without flaws, his sickness may have been the sole reason why he wasn't special, but that's a chance you take later on, not at the top. A top 5 pick shouldn't have such a huge flaw on his resume. Furthermore, there has been nothing but bad news on him since he came out. There's enough obstacles for a top notch draft pick to make it as a major leaguer even when things go smoothly early.

 

I don't see what's so irrational.

 

Wasn't he going to be a top 5 pick no matter what? I get the feeling people are just hoping that he becomes a bust and the guy they wanted the cubs to pick become an all star so they can say I told you so. He is 18 right? He got really sick in his senior season, and it took a while to recover. Other than that I don't see anything that would really change the opinion of him. Yes, it sucks that he got hurt in May, but it is May and he is 18. It seems like he is destined to be over criticized by everyone just because the cubbies didn't take their guy.

[Guest]

Vitters was a top 5 pick, the other probable top 5 guys (counting Porcello) all had question marks too. There's no perfect prospect coming out of the draft.

[badnews]

CaliforniaRaisin, your apologist stances on Vitters are troubling. I don't like this spin about "all the top 5 prospects had questions." That's like saying both Cody Johnson and Travis Snider had questions. Yeah, but one of them has a hell of a lot more questions than the other. If one of those 5 is going to be mistaken for The Riddler in a suit adorned with question marks, we know who it is. Porcello didn't get a ton of money because he was as questionable as Vitters. And nobody would say Vitters was as likely to make an MLB All-Star team as Wieters.

 

No more spin please.

[Jon]

CaliforniaRaisin, your apologist stances on Vitters are troubling. I don't like this spin about "all the top 5 prospects had questions." That's like saying both Cody Johnson and Travis Snider had questions. Yeah, but one of them has a hell of a lot more questions than the other. If one of those 5 is going to be mistaken for The Riddler in a suit adorned with question marks, we know who it is. Porcello didn't get a ton of money because he was as questionable as Vitters. And nobody would say Vitters was as likely to make an MLB All-Star team as Wieters.

 

No more spin please.

I'm personally waiting for my Raisin/Vitters save the date card.

 

Vitters was a top 5 pick, the other probable top 5 guys (counting Porcello) all had question marks too. There's no perfect prospect coming out of the draft.

was in reply to:

People hated the pick before it was made. They don't have confidence in a high school hitter who didn't even hit as a senior, I believe. Top picks should be without flaws, his sickness may have been the sole reason why he wasn't special, but that's a chance you take later on, not at the top. A top 5 pick shouldn't have such a huge flaw on his resume. Furthermore, there has been nothing but bad news on him since he came out. There's enough obstacles for a top notch draft pick to make it as a major leaguer even when things go smoothly early.

 

I don't see what's so irrational.

 

Wasn't he going to be a top 5 pick no matter what? I get the feeling people are just hoping that he becomes a bust and the guy they wanted the cubs to pick become an all star so they can say I told you so. He is 18 right? He got really sick in his senior season, and it took a while to recover. Other than that I don't see anything that would really change the opinion of him. Yes, it sucks that he got hurt in May, but it is May and he is 18. It seems like he is destined to be over criticized by everyone just because the cubbies didn't take their guy.

 

Are you really disputing the Raisin's point that Vitters was going to be a top 5 pick and that there was not a pick in this draft without a flaw? That's all he said.

[Guest]

CaliforniaRaisin, your apologist stances on Vitters are troubling. I don't like this spin about "all the top 5 prospects had questions." That's like saying both Cody Johnson and Travis Snider had questions. Yeah, but one of them has a hell of a lot more questions than the other. If one of those 5 is going to be mistaken for The Riddler in a suit adorned with question marks, we know who it is. Porcello didn't get a ton of money because he was as questionable as Vitters. And nobody would say Vitters was as likely to make an MLB All-Star team as Wieters.

 

No more spin please.

 

Thanks for putting me in my place, badnews. If not for you, I would never have known that my stance of Vitters being a consensus top 5 pick and that all top 5 prospects have questions is troubling and spin. But by all means, go nuts and freak out about a prospect who's only had 14 at bats at low-A and isn't even a full year from being drafted. I'll be concerned with his holes and negatives while realizing there's are valid reasons for him being drafted at 3 and I won't worry yet.

 

(BTW, did anyone notice that Travis Snider OPSed .708 and struck out 42% of the time he was at AA before he was demoted?)

[StylesClash]

Thanks for putting me in my place, badnews. If not for you, I would never have known that my stance of Vitters being a consensus top 5 pick and that all top 5 prospects have questions is troubling and spin. But by all means, go nuts and freak out about a prospect who's only had 14 at bats at low-A and isn't even a full year from being drafted. I'll be concerned with his holes and negatives while realizing there's are valid reasons for him being drafted at 3 and I won't worry yet.

 

The early struggles of Vitters don't worry me very much. My problem with Vitters is pretty simple. I've read a lot of scouting reports about him and quite frankly am not that excited with his upside. Its great that Vitters has a nice quick swing which will allow for consistent quality contact. But I don't believe his power potential is projected to be anything more than 20 to 30 Home Runs. And his plate discipline isn't exactly noteworthy, so his OBP/BA differential likely wont be that great.

 

Combine all that with his extremely poor defense and I wonder if the Cubs Ownership situation being in flux had more to do with Vitters being a top three pick than his projection. The fact that the Cub farm system lacks a pitcher with ace potential, and Rick Porcello is currently dominating in High-A ball, adds to the Vitters frustration.

[Guest]

Thanks for putting me in my place, badnews. If not for you, I would never have known that my stance of Vitters being a consensus top 5 pick and that all top 5 prospects have questions is troubling and spin. But by all means, go nuts and freak out about a prospect who's only had 14 at bats at low-A and isn't even a full year from being drafted. I'll be concerned with his holes and negatives while realizing there's are valid reasons for him being drafted at 3 and I won't worry yet.

 

The early struggles of Vitters don't worry me very much. My problem with Vitters is pretty simple. I've read a lot of scouting reports about him and quite frankly am not that excited with his upside. Its great that Vitters has a nice quick swing which will allow for consistent quality contact. But I don't believe his power potential is projected to be anything more than 20 to 30 Home Runs. And his plate discipline isn't exactly noteworthy, so his OBP/BA differential likely wont be that great.

 

Combine all that with his extremely poor defense and I wonder if the Cubs Ownership situation being in flux had more to do with Vitters being a top three pick than his projection. The fact that the Cub farm system lacks a pitcher with ace potential, and Rick Porcello is currently dominating in High-A ball, adds to the Vitters frustration.

 

The thing is, Vitters was a top-5 pick and the Pirates were expected to take him at 4 if he somehow fell, so I don't see how it's a reach to take him. Would I have rather had Porcello? Yes (and Heyward too). Doesn't mean it was a reach. Despite trying to limit bonuses via slotting, Vitters got $200,000 more in bonus than the third pick last year (Evan Longoria), which doesn't infer cost-cutting. This isn't Tyler Colvin-redux, imo.

 

And plate discipline? Some folks thought it was noteworthy:

 

His pitch recognition is very good; he knows what he wants to hit, and what he can and cannot hit.

 

I hear you on the power questions...that's my biggest worry with him.

 

Welcome to the board!

[RynoRules]

The title of this thread reminds me of a headline from Nancy Grace' show:

 

"BREAKING NEWS: Are the cops ready to arrest to Drew Peterson?"

[TruffleShuffle]

(BTW, did anyone notice that Travis Snider OPSed .708 and struck out 42% of the time he was at AA before he was demoted?)

 

wieters: .328/.413/.573/.986

parker: 4-1, 1.71 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, ~8 K/9 IP

porcello: 3-4, 1.72 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 5.36 K/9 IP

 

those were three correct answers to "who should the cubs draft with the #3 pick"

[illiniguy]

(BTW, did anyone notice that Travis Snider OPSed .708 and struck out 42% of the time he was at AA before he was demoted?)

 

wieters: .328/.413/.573/.986

parker: 4-1, 1.71 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, ~8 K/9 IP

porcello: 3-4, 1.72 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 5.36 K/9 IP

 

those were three correct answers to "who should the cubs draft with the #3 pick"

We like to punt when we pick that high anyways.

[Outshined_One]

porcello: 3-4, 1.72 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 5.36 K/9 IP

 

That isn't a number to be crowing about, you know.

 

If you wanted to rub it in, you would have referred us to his 1 HR given up in 47 IP or his 2.68 BB/9. :D

[illiniguy]

porcello: 3-4, 1.72 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 5.36 K/9 IP

 

That isn't a number to be crowing about, you know.

 

If you wanted to rub it in, you would have referred us to his 1 HR given up in 47 IP or his 2.68 BB/9. :D

He is 19 in high A. I wouldn't worry too much about the lack of strikeouts just yet.

[Outshined_One]

porcello: 3-4, 1.72 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 5.36 K/9 IP

 

That isn't a number to be crowing about, you know.

 

If you wanted to rub it in, you would have referred us to his 1 HR given up in 47 IP or his 2.68 BB/9. :D

He is 19 in high A. I wouldn't worry too much about the lack of strikeouts just yet.

 

I wouldn't either. I just find it odd that someone with his advanced stuff hasn't been striking out more batters in a pitcher-friendly league.

[treyZz]

Vitters was a top 5 pick, the other probable top 5 guys (counting Porcello) all had question marks too. There's no perfect prospect coming out of the draft.

 

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/03/09/sports/09hamilton_lg.jpg

[Outshined_One]

Vitters was a top 5 pick, the other probable top 5 guys (counting Porcello) all had question marks too. There's no perfect prospect coming out of the draft.

 

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/03/09/sports/09hamilton_lg.jpg

 

I believe CR was talking about that year's draft.

 

The last "perfect player" to come out was Justin Upton, imo.

[Guest]

porcello: 3-4, 1.72 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 5.36 K/9 IP

 

That isn't a number to be crowing about, you know.

 

If you wanted to rub it in, you would have referred us to his 1 HR given up in 47 IP or his 2.68 BB/9. :D

He is 19 in high A. I wouldn't worry too much about the lack of strikeouts just yet.

 

I'll take the 2.41 GO:AO with that strikeout rate.

[Brett]

porcello: 3-4, 1.72 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 5.36 K/9 IP

 

That isn't a number to be crowing about, you know.

 

If you wanted to rub it in, you would have referred us to his 1 HR given up in 47 IP or his 2.68 BB/9. :D

He is 19 in high A. I wouldn't worry too much about the lack of strikeouts just yet.

 

I'll take the 2.41 GO:AO with that strikeout rate.

 

Grumble. I really hate seeing things like that. I guess I will just relax with the knowledge that he's only 19. Were he a Cub, the "elbow soreness" would be just around the corner.