Cubs Top Prospects Lists (BP, John Sickels, BA, Keith Law)

[the splendid splinter]

People need to stop saying Vitters was 19 last season.

 

Yeah quit saying he was 19, oops he was 18.

[SouthSideRyan]

People need to stop saying Vitters was 19 last season.

 

Yeah quit saying he was 19, oops he was 18.

 

That was my point.

[TruffleShuffle]

he was like 18 and 11 months or 19 and 0 months, it really doesn't matter.

[Guest]

he was like 18 and 11 months or 19 and 0 months, it really doesn't matter.

 

That's not how you judge the age of a prospect during the season.

[radarluv1]

i wasnt real encouraged to open the minor league forum for the first time in months to read we're ranked 27/30. where will the SS Lee play this season?

[Outshined_One]

i wasnt real encouraged to open the minor league forum for the first time in months to read we're ranked 27/30. where will the SS Lee play this season?

 

Probably in the AZ League. If he starts in Boise or Peoria, then we can get really excited about him.

[jersey cubs fan]

he was like 18 and 11 months or 19 and 0 months, it really doesn't matter.

 

That's not how you judge the age of a prospect during the season.

 

That's not how some publications have arbitrarily decided to display a player's age, but he turned 19 during the season, so it's hardly a sin to say he was 19 last year.

[Guest]

he was like 18 and 11 months or 19 and 0 months, it really doesn't matter.

 

That's not how you judge the age of a prospect during the season.

 

That's not how some publications have arbitrarily decided to display a player's age, but he turned 19 during the season, so it's hardly a sin to say he was 19 last year.

It is universal in baseball to "age" a player according to their age on July 1st each season. It isn't "some publications". It is how seasonal age is officially listed by MLB, MiLB and every stat outlet out there.

[Mephistopheles]

he was like 18 and 11 months or 19 and 0 months, it really doesn't matter.

 

That's not how you judge the age of a prospect during the season.

 

That's not how some publications have arbitrarily decided to display a player's age, but he turned 19 during the season, so it's hardly a sin to say he was 19 last year.

It is universal in baseball to "age" a player according to their age on July 1st each season. It isn't "some publications". It is how seasonal age is officially listed by MLB, MiLB and every stat outlet out there.

 

That's why most people in the know use 19.5, 19.4, 19.3, etc.

[jersey cubs fan]

he was like 18 and 11 months or 19 and 0 months, it really doesn't matter.

 

That's not how you judge the age of a prospect during the season.

 

That's not how some publications have arbitrarily decided to display a player's age, but he turned 19 during the season, so it's hardly a sin to say he was 19 last year.

It is universal in baseball to "age" a player according to their age on July 1st each season. It isn't "some publications". It is how seasonal age is officially listed by MLB, MiLB and every stat outlet out there.

 

I realize that, but it's still arbitrary, and ridiculous to chastise somebody for saying a player was 19 in a season in which he turned 19.

[SouthSideRyan]

Saying that Vitters put up those #s last year at the age of 19 implies that he'll be 20 when he hits spring training. It's misleading, especially when you consider that a standard is already set for what determines a player's "age" for a season.

[jersey cubs fan]

Saying that Vitters put up those #s last year at the age of 19 implies that he'll be 20 when he hits spring training.

 

No it doesn't. It implies that he'll be 20 by July, instead of when he actually turns 20, in August.

[imb]

Saying that Vitters put up those #s last year at the age of 19 implies that he'll be 20 when he hits spring training.

 

No it doesn't. It implies that he'll be 20 by July, instead of when he actually turns 20, in August.

 

you are intentionally missing the entire point of this conversation

[jersey cubs fan]

Saying that Vitters put up those #s last year at the age of 19 implies that he'll be 20 when he hits spring training.

 

No it doesn't. It implies that he'll be 20 by July, instead of when he actually turns 20, in August.

 

you are intentionally missing the entire point of this conversation

 

I don't think you know what you're talking about.

[imb]

well then you're just doing it out of ignorance, which is probably more embarrassing

[jersey cubs fan]

well then you're just doing it out of ignorance, which is probably more embarrassing

embarrassing that I'm pointing out how stupid it is to get riled up over calling a 19 year old 19? Or pointing out that saying he was 19 last year in no way shape or form insinuates that he will be 20 in spring training?

 

no, not at all

[imb]

yet you're sitting here repeatedly ignoring the recognized standard for how to judge a prospect's age. What age anyone here places him at is not important, but you're still on the wrong side of the standard way to judge a prospect's age. Not to mention "pointing out how stupid it is to get "riled up"" is pretty ironic when you're on the wrong side and have still made a handful of posts arguing about it.

[Guest]

BA's top 10: http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/prospects/rankings/organization-top-10-prospects/2009/267408.html

 

TOP TEN PROSPECTS

1. Josh Vitters, 3b

2. Jeff Samardzija, rhp

3. Andrew Cashner, rhp

4. Dae-Eun Rhee, rhp

5. Wellington Castillo, c

6. Kevin Hart, rhp

7. Starlin Castro, ss/2b

8. Ryan Flaherty, ss

9. Jay Jackson, rhp

10. Hak-Ju Lee, ss

 

Got my handbook last night:

 

11. Steve Clevenger, C/1B

12. Micah Hoffpauir, 1B/OF

13. Brandon Guyer, OF

14. Junior Lake, SS

15. Jovan Rosa, 3B/1B

16. Tyler Colvin, OF

17. Marcos Mateo, RHP

18. Chris Carpenter, RHP

19. Darwin Barney, SS

20. Marquez Smith, 3B/2B

21. Mitch Atkins, RHP

22. Esmailin Caridad, RHP

23. Tony Thomas, 2B

24. Jake Fox, 1B/OF

25. Ty Wright, OF

26. Blake Parker, RHP

27. Matt Cerda, C

28. Logan Watkins, 2B

29. Alex Maestri, RHP

30. Su-Min Jung, RHP

31. Aaron Shafer, RHP

[craig]

8 internationals in top 30.

 

Counting Watkins, that makes 4 teen shortstops.

 

And 8 teens total.

 

The weakness of the system allows all these low-level unprovens to make the top 10 and the top 30. But (I suppose this is always true) if some of our younger guys do pan out, the system could rise in reputation very quickly.

[Guest]

8 internationals in top 30.

 

I assume you're not counting Marcos Mateo (trade).

 

Of those 8, 4 received notable six-figure bonuses (Rhee, Lee, Caridad and Jung).

 

Of the 8 internationals, 3 are South Korean, 1 is Italian and 4 are Dominican (Caridad via Japan). No Venezuelans in the top 30 for a system that has produced Zambrano, Guzman, Cedeno and whose last big Latin signing was Venezuelan Larry Suarez.

[CUBZ99]

Raisin, thanks for sharing the list with us. I know the Cubs take a beating in overall system rankings, but they really do have some exciting young players. Looking at the top 10, it doesn't look too bad. I hope to make the trip down to Peoria and see Vitters play this year, but the scouting reports on him so far have been outstanding. It would be nice to see a pure hitter come up through the system and make his mark on the team.

 

Surprised that Jackson is ranked all the way down at 9. Is he a Sean Gallagher type pitcher that has to continue to put up good numbers to get respect? Colvin at 16? Last year it seemed that he was working on patience and we don't know how long he was injured prior to his surgery. It would be too early to call him a bust, and I can really see him having a breakout season this year.

 

Also surprised to see Caridad rated as low as 21. From everything I've heard about him, I thought the Cubs were really high on him and thought that he could contribute as early as this year.

[Wrigley Rat]

Raisin or anyone else - Would someone mind listing the players that received an honorable mention? The players that didn't rank in the top 30, but are listed as depth at each position? Thanks in advance - I enjoy seeing who makes that list and who doesn't.

[Guest]

Raisin or anyone else - Would someone mind listing the players that received an honorable mention? The players that didn't rank in the top 30, but are listed as depth at each position? Thanks in advance - I enjoy seeing who makes that list and who doesn't.

 

I don't have mine with me but I'll post it tonight when I get home from work (around 8 or 9 CT).

 

Also, I believe Stevens was #19 and Gaub was #29 on the Indians' top 30.

[Wrigley Rat]

Thanks!

[Guest]

Raisin or anyone else - Would someone mind listing the players that received an honorable mention? The players that didn't rank in the top 30, but are listed as depth at each position? Thanks in advance - I enjoy seeing who makes that list and who doesn't.

 

Depth Chart:

 

LF: Drew Rundle

CF: Brandon Guyer (13), Ty Wright (25), Sam Fuld

RF: Tyler Colvin (16), Nelson Perez, Kyler Burke, Brandon Snyder, Dylan Johnston

3B: Josh Vitters (1), Ryan Flaherty (8), Jovan Rosa (15), Marquez Smith (20), Jonathan Mota

SS: Starlin Castro (7), Hak-Ju Lee (10), Junior Lake (14), Darwin Barney (19), Nate Samson

2B: Tony Thomas (23), Logan Watkins (28), Nate Spears, Josh Harrison, Marwin Gonzalez

1B: Micah Hoffpauir (12), Jake Fox (24), Russ Canzler, Rebel Ridling, Ryan Keedy

C: Welington Castillo (5), Steve Clevenger (11), Matt Cerda (27), Carlos Perez, Luis Flores

 

RHP Starters: Jeff Samardzija (2), Andrew Cashner (3), Dae-Eun Rhee (4), Jay Jackson (9), Chris Carpenter (18), Mitch Atkins (21), Esmailin Caridad (22), Su-Min Jung (30), Aaron Shafer (31), Larry Suarez, Casey Coleman, Hung-Wen Chen, Ryan Searle

RHP Relievers: Kevin Hart (6), Marcos Mateo (17), Blake Parker (26), Alex Maestri (29), David Patton, Dan McDaniel, Jesse Estrada, Jose Ascanio, Rocky Roquet, Justin Berg, Jordan Latham, Alberto Cabrera, Randy Wells, Julio Peña

LHP Starters: Jeffry Antigua, Jeff Beliveau, James Russell, Cody Hams

LHP Relievers: Casey Lambert, James Leverton, Ed Campusano, Jeremy Papelbon, Luke Sommer