Should Josh Vitters learn a new position?

[Little Slide Rooter]

Should the organization consider moving Josh Vitters to a different position? Weve dropped the ball on a lot of "sure thing" prospects, and this kid seems too talented to make the same mistake. I know its very early in his career, but I have a feeling he could be the real deal, plus, since hes so young, this would be a good time to teach him a new position. Ramirez contract expires in 2011, with a no trade clause effective until 2010 and a mutual option for 2012. Vitters probably wouldnt be ready for the majors until 2010 at the absoulte earliest, but once he is ready, why cant we keep him and Aramis? RF could be a good place to try him, maybe even 1B. After years of dissapointing prospects and wasted draft picks, The Cubs are do for our Ryan Braun or Albert Pujols.

[UMFan83]

It his first season in the minors. No need to mess with his confidence by moving him around the field IMO. Down the line it might be something to look into though.

[Outshined_One]

He's 18. Can we at least wait a few years before panicking about his natural position?

 

How long did it take A-Ram to become a quality defensive 3B?

[craig]

Does anybody know if Vitters got hurt yesterday again? He got pulled after two AB's.

 

He's rough defensively now. But it's going to be many years before his bat is big-league ready, if ever. The other positions he might eventually be switched to are LF, RF, and 1B. Those aren't necessarily the hardest or slowest positions to learn. No rush to switch him.

 

Obviously sticking at 3rd would be nice. If he moves super fast and becomes surprisingly good (certainly not to be expected based on any Cub prospect), you've still gotta figure he's 5 years out. By then Aram will be 35, Lee will be 38, Fukudome 36, and Soriano 37. So the needs will be wide open at potential Vitters spots if/when he would hypothetically be ready to hit.

 

3B would obviously be nicest. Even if Aram is still a bat, how likely is it that he'll be playing good 3B beyond age 35?

 

But if Vitters can hit (big question) and if he's a butcher at 3B, obviously he'll need to move.

 

But the primary question is whether he'll be able to hit. Lots of guys can hit the crummy Northwest league pitching. Lots of challenges ahead for him to prove he's one who can hit at higher levels.

[rawaction]

Does anybody know if Vitters got hurt yesterday again? He got pulled after two AB's.

 

He's rough defensively now. But it's going to be many years before his bat is big-league ready, if ever. The other positions he might eventually be switched to are LF, RF, and 1B. Those aren't necessarily the hardest or slowest positions to learn. No rush to switch him.

 

Obviously sticking at 3rd would be nice. If he moves super fast and becomes surprisingly good (certainly not to be expected based on any Cub prospect), you've still gotta figure he's 5 years out. By then Aram will be 35, Lee will be 38, Fukudome 36, and Soriano 37. So the needs will be wide open at potential Vitters spots if/when he would hypothetically be ready to hit.

 

3B would obviously be nicest. Even if Aram is still a bat, how likely is it that he'll be playing good 3B beyond age 35?

 

But if Vitters can hit (big question) and if he's a butcher at 3B, obviously he'll need to move.

 

But the primary question is whether he'll be able to hit. Lots of guys can hit the crummy Northwest league pitching. Lots of challenges ahead for him to prove he's one who can hit at higher levels.

 

The bold is the point I was coming here to make. Keep Vitters at 3B, until he proves beyond a reasonable doubt that he can't handle it....unless his bat is ready and the Cubs have a better 3B option in the majors ala what Colorado and SD have done w/ Stewart and Headley, respetively.

 

However, I don't think he's 5 years away, especially if he moves fast as you suggested. A continued good showing this year, could get him to Daytona this year. Even if you figure a year at each level after that, he's in Chicago for 2012.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Its not whether or not he can handle third, its will we need a 3rd baseman any time soon. More than likely, we wont be seeing him until maybe 2011,or late 2010 if he excels through the minors, but as long as Ramirez is producing, theres no reason not to keep him in town. He just turned 3o, and if he stays healthy, he could be a star for the next 5-6 years. Derek Lee, on the other hand, is 35, and I woulnt expect him to be resigned when his contract expires in a few years.

[weis21]

Derek Lee, on the other hand, is 35, and I woulnt expect him to be resigned when his contract expires in a few years.

Lee turns 33 this September.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Derek Lee, on the other hand, is 35, and I woulnt expect him to be resigned when his contract expires in a few years.

Lee turns 33 this September.

 

Really? Huh, I thought he was older. I guess he has that Dave Roberts/Tony Clarke you mean hes not in his 40's? look to him.

[Jon]

You can't develop players in the low minors based on possible future big league club needs. You do the best you can to keep their value at its highest, whether that value is realized with your own team or in a trade. Moving him to first base or the corner outfield would really hurt his value.

[B]

Derek Lee, on the other hand, is 35, and I woulnt expect him to be resigned when his contract expires in a few years.

Lee turns 33 this September.

 

Really? Huh, I thought he was older. I guess he has that Dave Roberts/Tony Clarke you mean hes not in his 40's? look to him.

Not really. When you said he was 35 I was shocked. I was thinking "wow, I thought he was alot younger".

[craig]

... More than likely, we wont be seeing him until maybe 2011,or late 2010 if he excels through the minors....

 

This is totally unrealistic. Vitters is 18, in short season. You think it's likely that three years from now, at age 21, we'll be seeing him as a factor? And if things go well you expect him to be up in two years, at age 20? that's ridiculously over-optimistic. He's 5 steps from the major leagues. So if he has no setbacks and never has to repeat, he could be in Wrigely in 2013, at a youthful age 23. Good chance that he won't advance that fast and will need to repeat a level, between injuries or performance or defense issues. Raw is optimistic that he'll be up in 2012, and that's optimistic but certainly reasonable: skip one level. But skipping three levels and being up in 2010, I suppose if you're expecting him to be Alex Rodriguez or Griffey Junior.

 

...He just turned 3o, and if he stays healthy, he could be a star for the next 5-6 years. Derek Lee, on the other hand, is 35, and I woulnt expect him to be resigned when his contract expires in a few years.

 

Other than the error in Lee's age, I agree with these points. Ramirez is a pure hitter, and this year a more mature hitter in terms of discipline. While his health has been iffy, he's got a fair shot to be an asset for another five years, or perhaps more. Given my more conservative Vitters advancement timetable, I think if Vitters could play 3rd and he blossoms as a wonderful hitter (both unlikely and anything but to be expected), then he might be able to replace Aram in good time. Even if Aram is still raking 4-5 years from now, I doubt he's going to be a premium defensive 3B 4-5-6-7-8 years from now.

 

I think one possible super-optimistic scenario would be to have Vitters make it at 3rd, and have Aram move to 1st when Lee is too old but Aram can still hit.

[Rob]

Keep him at 3rd until it becomes painfully obvious that he has no future there. Why kill his value when we don't have to?

[RedFlash]

Look at Milwaukee, I don't much about Braun defense in the minor, but the Brewers allow him to stay at 3rd, until it was painfully obviously he couldn't handle the position, and thus they move him to LF.

 

In other words...keep him at one position, and developed offensively. If Vitters bat is as good as the Cubs brass is saying, then the Cubs will find a spot defensively to put Vitters. Don't mess him up, wondering what position is he going to play. Let him focus on his offense.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I'm just spitballing here, but maybe we should wait until Vitters has played more than 17 professional games to decide that he's so much of a defensive liability that we need to move him somewhere.

[weis21]

I'm just spitballing here, but maybe we should wait until Vitters has played more than 17 professional games to decide that he's so much of a defensive liability that we need to move him somewhere.

[TruffleShuffle]

he should learn to play his current position adequately